North Korea Unhappy with Joint ROK-US Marine Drill
I was wondering how long North Korea would wait before complaining about this announced joint exercise:
North Korea has stepped up criticism of South Korea and the United States for their resumption of joint marine exercises, calling the move a military act against the ongoing peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula.
The verbal provocation came a week after the allies resumed the marine drills, the Korea Marine exercise Program (KMEP), for two weeks in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. Seoul and Washington suspended a series of joint military drills this year in consideration of the reconciliatory relations between the two Koreas, but the allies decided to resume the drill to enhance defense readiness here.
“Seoul and Washington should stop such a military act and remain consistent in the ongoing tension-easing on the peninsula by stopping any military exercises,” Rodong Sinmun, the North’s official mouthpiece, said Monday. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link.
I wondered if this exercise was set up straight by 3rd MEF. USFK and 8th Army are cancelling training left and right so they don’t upset the “peace” mood. There is really probably 0 training going on in Korea, aside from SHARP and suicide prevention.