North Korea warns the USA of a possible retaliation "with tremendous muscle" if it refuses to cancel Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a multinational military exercise conducted annually with South Korea and other allies.
As the event is done every year, so does it generate the irk of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), leading them to make threats of retaliation and statements of condemnation every year as well.
A spokesman from the North Korea National Defense Commission (NDC) said last Saturday that, "The further Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military exercises are intensified, the strongest military counteraction the (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will take to cope with them." The spokesman went on to say that North Korea "is the invincible power equipped with both [the] latest offensive and defensive means unknown to the world..."
According to the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, the said exercises, set to begin on Monday, is held "to enhance ... readiness, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula." An official also said that "(t)hese exercises are a clear demonstration of the U.S. commitment to the alliance."
The United States State Department commented that it was aware of such threats. A former U.S. Army General, Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, who has previously participated in the Ulchi drills, opined that Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, is just seeking attention from the international community.
"One of the key propaganda goals of the young leader is to just get on the radar of the U.S. With all the other things we're focused on -- ISIS, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Russia and Ukraine, etc., Kim Jong Un wants to ensure he grabs attention," Hertling said.
But even if the U.S.A. agrees to stop participating, the exercises will still go on for twelve days with the other allies, namely, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The military exercises will end on Aug. 28th.
