By Ben Kerrigan-
North Korea has issued a threat to the UK that it faces “a miserable end” if it participates in military exercises alongside troops from South Korea and the U.S.
North Korea also described Australia’s participation in the drills as a ”suicidal act”.
The threat was in relation to the Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills which, beginning on Monday and running until the end of the month, are thought to involve a small number of personnel from Britain, Australia and other countries.
The annual drills come at a time of dramatic tensions on the Korean peninsula after North Korea test launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles. Referring to the drills as a rehearsal for war, North Korea also threatened Australia if they participate.
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Seoul and Washington say the exercises are an opportunity for the allies to improve their defensive capabilities, but Pyongyang routinely denounces them as a dress rehearsal for war against North Korea.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said the drills were proof of Washington’s intention to invade:
“The reality vividly shows that the US ambition for stifling the DPRK [North Korea] remains unchanged no matter how much water may flow under the bridge and the puppet group’s ambition for invading the north remains unchanged”.
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WARNING
The statement proceeded to warn the US and it’s “puppets” to “act with discretion if they want to evade the historic moment of death”.
“Availing ourselves of this opportunity, we solemnly warn not only the US and puppet group but also satellites, including UK and Australia, which are taking advantage of the present war manouevres against the north that they would face a miserable end if they join in play with fire by tiger moths of war.”
STRIKE
South Korean pilots joined U.S pilots in drills with RAF Typhoon fighter jets last October in a drill called the Invincible Shield which they said would improve the allies’ ability to strike key targets in North Korea, including military facilities as well as those linked to the regime’s leader.
Most striking was Nort Korea’s reaction to news by the Australian prime minister’s announcement that the military in Australia would fight alongside the U.S if the latter was attacked by North Korea.
The North Korean foreign ministry has said that Turnbull’s show of support for Washington, and Australia’s participation in the military drills, has left the country open to unspecified “counter-measures of justice” by North Korea. It stated that “this is a suicidal act of inviting disaster, as it is an illustration of political immaturity, unaware of the seriousness of the current situation”.
SOLIDARITY
North Korea are obviously overlooking the fact that Australia’s involvement in the military drills are a show of solidarity with America and all those countries united against the provocative actions of North Korea of late. Their dangerous rhetoric and high misjudgement, goes to show how precarious the situation potentially is, and why the alliance is a positive one. There is the extra fact that North Korea is hugely underestimating the catastrophic effect any attack against Britain or any of the countries involved in the drill, can have on its own country.
King Jung- Un’s regime may have developed some nuclear capabilities, although the ballistic testing his country has attempted to flaunt to the world does not suggest he can match the combined forces of the countries united steadfastly against him. A peaceful solution is always most preferred, but it is the North Korean leader who is truly sparking these flames, and provoking a war in the process. It can only be hoped that diplomacy and dialogue will be pursued in this very hostile climate, but that can only work if the North Korean regime are willing to listen and reason.
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