North Korea has threatened to retaliate if the United States goes ahead with scheduled military drills with South Korea, ramping up pressure on Washington to change course as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches.
The statement on Wednesday came even though Washington said last week that the joint aerial exercise planned for next month would be reduced in scope from previous drills.
“It is self-defense rights” to retaliate against any move which threatens its sovereignty and security, according to a statement from the State Affairs Commission, without elaborating.
It is rare for the Commission, the supreme governing body chaired by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, to release a statement.
Last week, a senior North Korean diplomat also blamed the US joint aerial drill for “throwing cold water” over talks with Washington. Pyongyang opposes US-South Korean joint military exercises, viewing them as a rehearsal for invasion.
