NewsNorth Korea warns of nuclear conflict over US-South Korea drills
North Korea warns of nuclear conflict over US‑South Korea drills
ed. PJM
5 March 2024 09:55
North Korea has called on Seoul and Washington to immediately cease their military exercises, claiming that these maneuvers are not defensive but an attempt to invade the North. "A nuclear war could be ignited by just a spark," warned a North Korean official.
The North Korean Ministry of Defense has demanded an end to the joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States. Through a statement released by the North Korean agency KCNA on Tuesday, Pyongyang labelled these maneuvers as acts of war and warned of potential consequences.
On Monday, South Korea and the United States commenced their annual spring military exercises, named Freedom Shield. The number of soldiers participating this year has doubled compared to last year. The primary objective of these exercises is to enhance readiness in response to evolving nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.
A spokesperson from the North Korean Ministry of Defense issued a statement condemning these "reckless and imprudent" military exercises and urged Seoul and Washington to halt these actions immediately.
The official argued that "exercises can never be defensive but are an attempt at invasion of the North." He highlighted the increased scale of these exercises and the participation of 11 member states of the UN Command, adding that "just a spark could trigger a nuclear war." According to him, the US and South Korea will "pay a steep price for their mistaken choice."
The joint military exercises between the USA and South Korea are scheduled to conclude on March 14. The allies insist that these maneuvers are defensive and aim to counter threats from North Korea.
