North Korea has accused the United States and South Korea of continuously conducting joint military drills against it, thereby crossing a “red line” toward a new nuclear war.
What Happened: On Monday, North Korea claimed that the U.S. and South Korea have not ceased their joint military exercises against the North since the signing of the armistice that concluded the 1950-53 Korean War, Yonhap News Agency reported. The North’s main newspaper, The Rodong Sinmun, made the allegations ahead of the 71st anniversary of the armistice signing on July 27, a day celebrated as Victory Day in North Korea.
The newspaper further asserted that the U.S. and South Korea are “crossing a red line of a new world nuclear warfare without hesitation.” In response, South Korea’s unification ministry dismissed the claims, stating that North Korea was playing the victim despite being the initial invader with support from the Soviet Union and China.
North Korea has consistently criticized joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington, viewing them as rehearsals for an invasion. Meanwhile, the allies maintain that such drills are defensive in nature.
The Rodong Sinmun also claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fortified the country’s nuclear deterrence to permanently end this prolonged war.
Why It Matters: The accusations come in the wake of a series of events that have heightened tensions between the two Koreas. Earlier this month, the U.S. and South Korea signed their first joint nuclear deterrence guidelines in response to escalating nuclear threats from North Korea.
Furthermore, South Korea celebrated its first-ever North Korean Defectors' Day, honoring approximately 34,000 North Koreans who escaped the oppressive rule of Pyongyang.
Adding to the tension, South Korea resumed its anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts in response to North Korea's launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
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