North Korea says US drills have pushed situation to ‘extreme red-line’ -KCNA

SEOUL – North Korea‘s Overseas Ministry mentioned on Thursday that drills by the USA and its allies have pushed the situation to an “extreme red-line” and threaten to flip the peninsula right into a “huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone.”

The assertion, carried by state information company KCNA, mentioned Pyongyang was not interested by dialogue so long as Washington pursues hostile insurance policies.

“The military and political situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region has reached an extreme red-line due to the reckless military confrontational maneuvers and hostile acts of the US and its vassal forces,” an unnamed ministry spokesperson mentioned within the assertion.

The assertion cited a go to to Seoul this week by US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin. On Tuesday Mr. Austin and his South Korean counterpart vowed to expand military drills and deploy extra “strategic assets,” comparable to plane carriers and long-range bombers, to counter North Korea‘s weapons growth and stop a warfare.

“This is a vivid expression of the US dangerous scenario which will result in turning the Korean peninsula into a huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone,” the North Korean assertion mentioned.

North Korea will reply to any army strikes by the USA, and has robust counteraction methods, together with “the most overwhelming nuclear force” if crucial, the assertion added.

Greater than 28,500 American troops are primarily based in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean Struggle, which led to an armistice somewhat than a peace treaty.

Final yr, North Korea performed a document variety of ballistic missile exams, that are banned by United Nations Safety Council resolutions. It was additionally noticed reopening its shuttecrimson nuclear weapons check web site, elevating expectations of a nuclear check for the primary time since 2017.

In New York, South Korea‘s foreign minister, Park Jin, met with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday and called for the UN’s continued consideration to North Korea‘s current provocations and efforts to implement sanctions on the reclusive regime.

Guterres mentioned North Korea‘s additional nuclear test will deal a devastating blow to regional and international security, and reaffirmed support to build lasting peace on the Korean peninsula, according to Mr. Park’s workplace.

Park is on a four-day journey to the USA, which can embody a gathering with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Friday.

On Wednesday the USA and South Korea carried out a joint air drill with American B-1B heavy bombers and F-22 stealth fighters, in addition to F-35 jets from each international locations, in accordance to South Korea‘s Protection Ministry.

“The combined air drills this time show the US‘ will and capabilities to provide strong and credible extended deterrence against North Korea‘s nuclear and missile threats,” the Protection Ministry mentioned in a press release. – Reuters

Source link