North Korea has threatened retaliation against the United States after accusing American pilots of flying planes in what it perceived to be a practice run for an attack.
The response from North Korea came after US pilots teamed up with pilots in South Korea this week for a training mission which involved the US flying long-range B-1B bombers over South Korea.
The planes are capable of carrying a large number of conventional weapons, and South Korea’s Defence Ministry claimed the exercise was designed to be a show of deterrence from the allied nations.
Both South Korea and the US noted their countries routinely hold exercises which they describe as being defensive in nature. However, at a time when North Korea continues to advance its nuclear programme, the country has accused the military exercise as being a rehearsal for an invasion.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday (April 16), a spokesperson for North Korea’s Defence Ministry said: “The recent military move of the US and the ROK (South Korea) is an open threat to the security of our state and a grave provocation that raises the military tension in the region to an extreme, dangerous level.”
North Korea made clear it would not remain idle, saying it would 'deter by dint of powerful force the U.S. aggressive attempt to permanently fix the malignant instability element in the security environment of the region'.
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The exercise, which was the second of its kind since president Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office, saw South Korea's F-35 and F-16 fighter jets join the American jets as they flew over the Korean Peninsula.
Commenting on the exercise, South Korea’s defence ministry said the country will continue to work with US to expand their joint military exercises to respond to North Korean nuclear threats.
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The country also announced plans to begin large-scale biannual aerial exercises with American forces, which will last two weeks and will involve 90 aircraft and other aerial assets from the allied nations.
North Korea is particularly sensitive to the US mobilization of strategic assets, such as long-range bombers, aircraft carriers, and nuclear-powered submarines, and its threat of retaliation comes after Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a 'very smart guy' just a few weeks ago.
Speaking on March 31, the POTUS added that North Korea is a 'big nuclear nation', and added that there is 'communication' between himself and the North Korean leader.
Topics: North Korea, Donald Trump, Kim Jong-un, Military
Emily Brown