North Korea: "US-ROK Joint Exercises Will Face Unprecedented Ultra-Strong Response"

"Additional Action Measures if Dragged by the US"
Provocation Justification Accumulated Under the Pretext of March Joint Exercises

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has threatened to respond strongly if the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises are carried out. It is interpreted as North Korea building a pretext to resume provocations using the annual exercises scheduled for next month as an excuse.

The spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a released statement on the 17th, "If the United States and South Korea proceed with their training plans, which we consider preparations for an aggressive war based on our legitimate concerns and grounds, as already announced, they will face continuous and unprecedented strong responses that have never been seen before."

North Korean flag
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

He continued, "Since the United States and South Korea have blatantly revealed their reckless attempt to gain prospective military superiority on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, we cannot remain unresponsive. If the United States chooses to demonstrate and respond with force, our choice will correspond accordingly," he emphasized.

In particular, he argued that the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises will plunge the regional situation into a vortex of escalating tension, absurdly blaming South Korea and the United States for the deterioration of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. After a quiet period since the beginning of the year, there are concerns that North Korea will resume provocations such as ballistic missile launches using the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises scheduled for March as a pretext.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson also criticized the United States for convening a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting related to North Korea, claiming it has turned into a "unilateral U.S. tool for pressure against North Korea." Furthermore, he accused the Security Council of targeting North Korea, which is maintaining "patience and restraint," using expressions such as "strong condemnation," "regrettable," and "hostile acts."

The spokesperson stated, "The U.S. machinations to degrade the Security Council into an illegal and unscrupulous execution body of hostile policies against North Korea have reached an intolerable extreme," and emphasized, "If the United Nations Security Council continues to be manipulated according to the U.S. wishes, turning into a unilateral U.S. pressure tool against North Korea, we will have no choice but to reconsider additional measures beyond the scope of normal military activities as a protest against the Security Council."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense reported to the National Assembly's Defense Committee that the '2023 FS' South Korea-U.S. joint exercise will be conducted continuously for 11 days starting mid-next month. This exercise plans to apply realistic scenarios reflecting high-intensity nuclear threats such as North Korea's nuclear and missile unusual activities and rhetorical threats, as well as the actual threat posed by North Korean reserve forces.

Specifically, ▲ depiction of high-intensity nuclear threats including North Korea's nuclear and missile unusual activities and enhanced rhetorical threats ▲ reflection of the actual threat from North Korean reserve forces based on lessons learned from the Ukraine war ▲ creation of a realistic training environment including operational friction factors (supply, fuel, transport, equipment) will be implemented.

During the exercise period, the scale and scope of joint field maneuver exercises will be expanded, and division-level Ssangryong joint amphibious exercises and other joint field maneuvers will be intensively conducted at the level of the past 'Dokdo Eagle' (Foal Eagle) exercises. Considering the atmosphere of inter-Korean reconciliation, the Dokdo Eagle exercises, which were suspended during the Moon Jae-in administration, will effectively be revived after five years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.