— This dangerous act of provocation, which aggravates the situation on the Korean Peninsula and 1 accidental blow can origin a conflict between the 2 parties," said the abroad Minister in Pyongyang quoted by the regime's KCNA agency.
On Monday, large-scale, yearly exercises of US and South Korea forces called Freedom Shield 2025 began. According to the Pentagon statement, they will include "live, virtual and ground training". They'll last until March 21.
Military cooperation between the United States and South Korea frequently evokes the regime's emotional reactions in Pyongyang. Joint exercises of forces of these countries he sees as preparation for invasion, in consequence to what he frequently performs rocket tests. So it was this time.
The British paper "Independent" reported that North Korea launched respective ballistic missiles towards the Yellow Sea on Monday — this information was subsequently confirmed by the South Korean Joint Headquarters. Details of the way of the missiles or their scope are unknown for the time being, only it is known that they were fired from Hwanghae Province. It was. the 5th specified test conducted by the Kim Jong Un government this year.
Cooperation between the USA and South Korea
A fewer days earlier, on March 6, 2 South Korean fighters accidentally dropped 8 bombs on Pocheon, located about 40 km north of Seoul, during a joint exercise with US forces. According to the South Korean National Fire Service, 15 people were injured, including civilians and military personnel. South Korean Air Force Command reported that the origin of the mistake was the erroneous introduction of coordinates by 1 of the pilots.
The relations between Pjongjang and Seoul have been at the lowest level in years. Last year, North Korea launched a series of ballistic missiles in violation of UN sanctions. Technically, both Koreas stay at war due to the fact that the 1950-1953 conflict ended with a ceasefire alternatively than a peace treaty.
The United States maintains tens of thousands of soldiers in South Korea, partially to defend Seoul from Pyongyang. Wide-scale Freedom Shield 2025 exercises are among the largest yearly joint exercises between these countries. Last week, the Pjongjang government criticized Washington for “political and military provocations” — USS aircraft carrier Carl Vinson landed in South Korean port of Pusan.
