← Back to Home

North Korea denounces South Korea-US air defence drills, KCNA reports

Reuters

SEOUL, Oct 30 (Reuters) - ‌North Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement ​published by ‌state media KCNA on Friday ‌that the South Korea-US Freedom Flag air defence drills were ‌increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"There is no limit for the DPRK's option to maintain a strong ⁠deterrent posture capable of effectively ‌coping with all ⁠threats posed by the military moves ​of the US and its vassal forces," the ministry's ​spokesperson said, using the acronym ​for ‌North Korea's formal name, the Democratic ​People's Republic of Korea.

South ⁠Korean and US air ‌forces have ​been conducting joint ​air defence drills since Monday at the Kunsan Air Base, which are scheduled to run until ‌November 6, according to the South Korean Defence Ministry.

The drills ‌involve ​stealth jets including South Korea's F-35A and US Marine Coro's F-35B supersonic fighter, the ministry said.

(Reporting by ‌Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)