The Duran
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) – North Korea’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ja Song Nam has sent a letter to the organization’s Security Council (UNSC) asking to discuss the ongoing joint US-South Korea drills considered by Pyongyang as a rehearsal for military action against North Korea, media reported Sunday.
The annual joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) military exercise started in South Korea on Monday to last through August 31.
In a letter sent on Friday, Pyongyang requested to include the issue in the UNSC emergency agenda, South Korean Yonhap news agency reported, citing the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
If the UNSC chooses to ignore Pyongyang’s request, the organization will demonstrate abandoning its responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the letter reportedly read.
In its request to the UNSC, North Korea reiterated its position that the UFG military exercise will escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and accused Washington of intending to occupy the North by force, the reports added.
According to the US Department of Defense, in 2017 the drills will involve 17,500 US troops, staff from the South Korean military and government services and United Nations Command forces from seven countries, including Australia, Canada, Columbia, Denmark, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been high over the recent months over Pyongyang nuclear and missile test including Saturday’s ballistic missiles launch. In June, China initiated a road map for the settlement of North Korean crisis, the so-called double freeze plan, which provides for the simultaneous cessation of North Korea’s nuclear activity and the US-South Korean military exercises. The initiative has been supported by Russia but rejected by the United States. North Korea has yet to issue a response to the proposal.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
“…..and United Nations Command forces from seven countries, including Australia, Canada, Columbia, Denmark, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.” The US – seeking the fig leaf of more flags, as they constantly do – eg in all their NATO exercises, or their ludicrous 70-country Inherent Resolve ‘coalition’. Many countries only send a couple of ‘troops’ to observe and carry a flag at those all-important photo ops. Others just send their good wishes, or worse find out that they did after the fact. ‘United Nations Command’ is nothing more that a 6 decade old administrative hangover from the Korean… Read more »
“he constantly seeks the validation of a crowd.”
The real reason for the US having “coalitions” is so that the body bags that are returned are those of other countries soldiers, NOT the US. And those countries participating in these “exercises” should be condemned also.
I didn’t know NZ was sending forces but then our Government only follows Washington’s whims just like they need another 2 Kiwi service men for Afghanistan. What a joke?
Excellent move by the North Korea.
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