North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has criticised a joint military exercise between their neighbour South Korea and the US, saying it shows “their will to ignite a war” and could lead to the destruction of regional peace and security, state-run media said Tuesday.
Kim made the remarks the previous day as he inspected a weapons system operation test of a 5,000-ton multipurpose destroyer that was officially launched in the western port city of Nampho in April. He also called for “rapid expansion” of the country’s nuclear arsenal, citing what he called the severe security environment faced by Pyongyang, writes KCNA.
On Monday, Seoul and Washington kicked off the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise to enhance their readiness against threats from North Korea. The exercise will mobilise 21,000 troops, including 18,000 South Koreans, for computer-simulated command post operations and field training, reports AP.
But about half of the drills were postponed to September in a move seen as part of a conciliatory approach toward North Korea taken by new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Kim, however, said the annual joint exercise clearly underlines the two countries’ “intention to remain most hostile and confrontational” toward North Korea, adding they have been “recently plotting military nexus with the nuclear element involved,” says Kyodo.
After observing the test of the Choe Hyon destroyer weapons system, Kim expressed satisfaction over progress achieved in making the country’s navy “high-tech and nuclear-armed.”
Pyongyang aims to build the third Choe Hyon-class destroyer by October 2026. The warship, named after a North Korean general and anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter, is believed to be nuclear-capable, being equipped with supersonic cruise missile systems and tactical ballistic missile systems.
The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war, divided by the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea and South Korea