North Korea warns of powerful response, in more than 250 US as well as S Korean aircraft take part in the “Vibrant Storm” exercise
North Korea has warned of “powerful follow-up measures” in reaction to the biggest air-based exercises jointly held by two militaries South Korea and the United States over the past five years.
A spokesperson from the minister of foreign affairs described drills on Tuesday as a “ceaseless and reckless” military provocation intended to prepare for possible attacks against North Korea, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported.
The air exercises called “Vigilant Storm” — were being planned “for aggression mainly aimed at striking the strategic targets of the DPRK” according to The spokesperson’s statement reported from Pyongyang’s government-run Korean Central News Agency, according to Yonhap.
“The DPRK stands used to describe the official name of North Korea The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“If the US continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK will take into account more powerful follow-up measures,” the spokesperson added.
Pyongyang was ready as well “ready to take all necessary measures for defending its sovereignty, people’s security and territorial integrity from outside military threats,” the official claimed, Yonhap reported.
The day before, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles with a short range toward the Sea of Japan, the latest of a string of missile launches in the last few weeks, which signal an alarming rise in tension and highlight the growing willingness of North Korea to show its military strength.
Pyongyang also has stepped up its rhetoric about nuclear weapons. Recently, it adopted the nuclear doctrine, which allows preemptive nuclear strikes in vaguely defined emergency situations.
Seoul as well as Washington have warned repeatedly that Pyongyang might be near to testing an atomic bomb for the first time since the year 2017.
This week last week, three countries: the US, South Korea, and Japan warned that an “unparalleled” response would be justifiable in the event that North Korea tests a nuclear weapon.
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters in a statement on Monday Washington does not acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, and that the US policy was “completed denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula”.
“We continue to reach out to the DRPK and are committed to pursuing a diplomatic approach,” Price stated on Monday.
“We naturally would prefer to have this DPRK engage in a serious and deep dialogue on this. As of now, they haven’t engaged in this. We’ve made it clear that there are no preconditions to dialogue. It sounds like the DPRK could take a different spot,” he said.
Pyongyang’s threat of the need for a “powerful” response on Tuesday is with more than 250 US as well as South Korean aircraft participating in the Vigilant Storm air exercises, which began on Monday and will continue through Friday.
The US has sent around 100 aircraft in the exercise according to Yonhap that includes four of the most advanced F-35B stealth fighters of the US Marine Fighter Attack Squadron located in Japan and EA-18 electronic warfare aircraft, KC-135 tankers, and U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.
South Korea has deployed 140 aircraft to exercises, which include F-35A stealth fighters, such as well F-15K as well as KF-16 fighters.
This South Korean military also recently completed the 12 days of “Hoguk” military field exercises which are held each year and include US soldiers.
