Spotlight: DPRK denounces U.S.-ROK largest-ever military drill

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has vigorously denounced the largest-ever U.S.-South Korea military drill that kicked off on Monday, warning that the country has taken all measures to launch pre-emptive and "indiscriminate" nuclear strikes.

According to the DPRK's KCNA news agency, a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea released a statement on Monday, describing the military actions as "violating the sovereignty of the DPRK and destroy its right to existence by force."

The rehearsal can not but be branded as the "ferocious war racket that can never be tolerated by the army and people of the DPRK," the spokesman said, adding that "the DPRK did not make an empty talk when it said its measures for all-out counteraction include strong physical counteraction now."

The U.S.-South Korea military actions have escalated the situation, especially with the planned "beheading operation" targeting the supreme headquarters of the DPRK, the statement said.

In a separate statement on Monday, the DPRK's National Defence Commission said "the army and people of the DPRK will take military counteraction for preemptive attack so that they may deal merciless deadly blows at the enemies."

"The indiscriminate nuclear strike to be made by the DPRK will clearly show those keen on aggression and war the military mettle" of the DPRK, the statement said.

The drills, code-named Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, are scheduled to run through the end of next month. The Key Resolve command post exercise based on computer simulation will be carried out through March 18, with the Foal Eagle field training exercise lasting until April 30.

The United States will mobilize some 17,000 troops, more than double the number of previous years, and deploy a combat aviation brigade and an expeditionary Marine brigade. About 300,000 South Korean personnel will be involved, some 1.5 times more than its average deployment for the annual drills.

The largest exercises ever staged on the Korean Peninsula, came after the DPRK tested what it claimed was its first hydrogen bomb on Jan. 6 and followed up with a satellite launch on Feb. 7.

UN Security Council members unanimously adopted a resolution on March 2, approving a set of harsh sanctions in response to the country's nuclear test and satellite launch.

Resolution 2270 requires countries to inspect all cargo going to and from the DPRK. It imposes an asset freeze on all funds and other economic resources owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the DPRK government or by the Workers' Party of Korea, if they are found to be associated with its nuclear or ballistic missile programs or any other prohibited activities.

The resolution also calls for the resumption of the six-party talks, a multilateral dialog mechanism, which was designed to facilitate a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

The U.S. State Department on Monday described its major military exercises with the ROK as "100 percent commitment" to the ROK and to "security and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

"It means we are a hundred percent committed to our alliance and security commitments on the peninsula," State Department spokesman John Kirby told a daily press briefing when being asked what signal the U.S.-ROK joint military exercises might send.

"We've been doing them for 40 years, because it's important for military forces to be ready," Kirby said. "Particularly, in that part of the world."

The spokesman said the drills are designed to "sharpen and improve coordination and capabilities" of the U.S.-ROK alliance.

As to top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's order to make nuclear warheads to be placed always on standby for use at any time, Kirby said "We do take those threats seriously and again call on Pyongyang to cease with the provocative rhetoric, cease with the threats and, quite frankly more critically, cease the provocative behavior."

Hong Lei, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that China is highly concerned about keeping stability on the Korean Peninsula and "firmly opposes any move that will stir up trouble on the peninsula."

He urged "restraint instead of provocative moves."

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday also expressed concern over the joint military drill, criticizing Washington and Seoul for using it to pressure the DPRK.

All sides should "exercise restraint, and not allow the situation to run amok and spin into uncontrollable conflict spreading on the (Korean) peninsula," the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the ministry warned the DPRK not to "completely place itself against the international community," which would provide the "international legal basis for the use of military force against Pyongyang."

According to Hong Lei, both China and Russia have expressed grave concern over the push by the United States and the ROK for deploying anti-ballistic missile systems in the ROK, saying the move would intensify tensions, harm the strategic balance in the region and directly undermine the security of China and Russia. Endi