North Korea threatens preemptive strike on US-South Korea joint military exercise

North Korea today threatened to launch a preemptive strike in response to recent joint military exercises by US and South Korean special operations forces.

A North Korean missile test launch. Photo: KRT.

"We will mercilessly trample all their efforts with preemptive special operations and preemptive strikes," a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) said today.

North Korea's attacks would be carried out without warning and at a time of its own choosing, as long as US special forces remain in South Korea.

US special forces, including SEAL Team 6, are participating in the annual Foal Eagle joint military exercise in South Korea. Foal Eagle began on March 1 and is scheduled to last until the end of April. The Key Resolve exercise, which runs parallel to Foal Eagle, began on March 13.

In response, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) warned that North Korea would face consequences for its provocations, Yonhap reported.

"If North Korea provokes, our military will respond sternly because we are prepared and ensure that such action will only lead to self-destruction," the JCS said.

South Korea insists Foal Eagle is a defensive exercise designed to help the US-South Korea alliance prepare to defend Seoul in the event of a conflict. North Korea views it as a preparation for war aimed at Pyongyang.

According to VNE