DPRK warns against resumption of U.S.-S.Korean military drills after Olympics

PYONGYANG, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday warned against the resumption of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The official Korean Central News Agency warned in a commentary that there were "increasing concerns at home and abroad about the situation on the Korean Peninsula after the Olympics" as Washington was "touting the resumption of the joint military exercises" with Seoul "as soon as the Olympics ends."

It said the "sinister military act" seeks to "chill the hard-won atmosphere for the improvement of the north-south ties."

If they resume the joint military exercises, "the situation on the Korean Peninsula will again be pushed back to the grim phase of catastrophe and the provokers will have to bear all responsibilities," it added.

The joint exercises, Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, will be carried out after the Olympics, Choi Hyun-soo, spokesperson for South Korea's Defense Ministry, told reporters Friday without disclosing the date and size of the drills.

The White House said earlier this year that U.S. President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, agreed in a telephone call that the two countries would delay the military exercises to ensure the security of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Enditem