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Pentagon Dismisses Pyongyang's Objections to US-South Korea Air Drills

Kim Young-gyo

   The U.S. intends to hold aerial exercises with South Korea as planned,
   despite North Korea's accusation that the joint drills are
   "confrontational."

   "We don't scale [back] or conduct our exercises based on North Korea's
   anger," said Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn in an email
   message to VOA's Korean Service.

   He was responding to a statement carried by North Korea's official
   [1]Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, slamming the U.S. for
   preparing to hold joint aerial drills with South Korea next month.

   Kwon Jong Gun, a roving ambassador for North Korea's Foreign Ministry,
   said the U.S. plans to hold the joint drills "amounts to a declaration
   of confrontation" with North Korea.

   Since U.S. President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
   at their historic Singapore summit in June 2018 the U.S. has either
   suspended or [2]scaled down the joint military exercises it holds with
   South Korea in order to enhance the atmosphere for denuclearization
   talks to continue.

References

   1. https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1573046325-286487193/roving-ambassador-of-foreign-ministry-of-dprk-blasts-u-s-plan-to-resume-combined-aerial-exercise-with-s-korea/
   2. http://airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/November%202019/US-South-Korea-to-Hold-Smaller-Flying-Training-Event-to-Replace-Vigilant-Ace.aspx

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