North Korea warned Monday of a continued, determined and overwhelming response to the «reckless military frenzy» between the United States and South Korea, which are conducting joint military training these days.
Specifically, Pyongyang has maintained that it will respond to the ‘Vigilant Storm’ maneuver, which has recently been extended in time by Washington and Seoul in reaction to recent intense missile launches by North Korea.
«The enemy’s large-scale joint air drills are, in fact, an open provocation intentionally raising regional tensions and, in particular, a dangerous war exercise with a very aggressive nature aimed directly at our country,» the North Korean government has said, as reported by KCNA.
It has also described «all recent and defiant moves» by the United States and South Korea as «unacceptable» and «aggressive».
For this reason, and to demonstrate «a complete and resolute will to respond to a desperate situation», the North Korean Army would have carried out a simulation of an alleged attack on a South Korean air base by firing four ballistic missiles and launching 23 surface-to-air missiles in recent days.
In addition, Pyongyang reportedly aimed one of the ballistic missiles at «an uninhabited front island,» referring to the island of Ulleung. Last Wednesday, the North Korean Army fired a projectile that fell near the island, activating the air siren in some areas of South Korea.
«Through the operation, the North Korean Armed Forces responded thoroughly to the enemy’s joint air drills (…) The counter-military operation carried out by the KPA is our unequivocal response that our response will be more comprehensive and ruthless as long as the provocative ones persist,» the North Korean executive said.
«The General Staff of the Korean People’s Army once again reiterates that it will respond to all kinds of anti-North Korean war exercises of the enemy with continuous, resolute and overwhelming practical military measures,» it added.