North Korea has labeled U.S.-South Korea military drills as a “dangerous provocative act,” citing risks of conflict. The annual Freedom Shield drills will run until March 20, but live-fire exercises are suspended due to an accidental bombing incident that injured 29 civilians. South Korea’s military defends the drills as necessary for readiness against North Korea.
North Korea has condemned the recent U.S.-South Korea military exercises as a “dangerous provocative act,” emphasizing the potential for an accidental shooting to escalate into a larger conflict. The annual Freedom Shield drills commenced on Monday and are set to continue until March 20. However, live-fire exercises have been suspended following an incident in which South Korean jets accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area, injuring at least 29 individuals.
North Korea has consistently called for the cessation of U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, regarding them as a precursor to invasion. In contrast, the South Korean military asserts that these joint drills are designed to enhance the alliance’s preparedness against threats posed by North Korea. North Korea’s foreign ministry expressed concern, stating, “This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot, to the extreme point,” according to state media KCNA.
The North Korean ministry also claimed that the drills would jeopardize U.S. security. In related developments, Lee Young-su, the chief of South Korea’s Air Force, publicly apologized for the previous week’s unprecedented incident where two jets mistakenly bombed a village. Lee remarked, “It was an accident that should never have happened and it should never happen again.”
The investigations revealed that the bombings occurred due to a pilot’s oversight, where coordinates were not thoroughly checked before the drop. The military’s interim findings, reported by Yonhap News Agency, indicated that one pilot rushed and failed to verify the target accurately, prompting the second pilot to drop bombs without realizing the target was incorrect. Additionally, the accidental bombing took place in Pocheon, approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Seoul, outside designated training zones, adding to local residents’ longstanding concerns about the risks associated with military exercises.
In summary, North Korea’s condemnation of the U.S.-South Korea military drills highlights escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The recent accidental bombing incident underscores potential risks associated with such exercises. Both nations continue to navigate complex military dynamics, as South Korea seeks to enhance preparedness against North Korean threats while grappling with domestic criticism over military safety protocols.
Original Source: www.japantimes.co.jp
