North Korea has threatened “indiscriminate nuclear strikes on the U.S. and South Korea as they began their largest ever military drills. North Korea says it views the annual war games as a rehearsal for invasion. Last year during the war games North Korea threatened to turn Washington into a “sea of fire.”
“We will launch an all-out offensive to decisively counter the US and its followers’ hysteric[al] nuclear war moves,” said a newsreader on the state-run North Korean KRT news channel of the latest exercises.
The troops involved are significantly higher than last year, with 17,000 U.S. troops and 300,000 South Korean troops. The U.S. exercises were completed on 18 March, while the South Korean exercises end on 30 April. Unconfirmed reports say that the exercises, which came just days after the UN passed new sanctions against North Korea for it recent missile test, include training for precision attacks on North Korean leadership and its nuclear and missile facilities.
“If North Korea ignores our warning and makes provocations, our military will firmly and mercilessly respond to it,” said spokesman Moon Sang-gyun of the South’s defense ministry.
The North responded to the sanctions by saying it was readying nuclear weapons for “pre-emptive” use. It also fired short-range missiles into the sea.
The US and South Korea on Friday also began formal talks on the deployment of a US missile defense system to the peninsula, a move strongly opposed by North Korea, Russia and China. Beijing says the Thaad anti-missile system compromises its security and would undermine its nuclear deterrent.
“And there shall be wars and rumors of wars.” Matthew 24:6