North-Korea threatens to cancel Trump meeting over US-South Korea military-drills
North Korea on Wednesday canceled a high-level meeting with South Korea citing the military drills between the latter and the US, hours before the Korean nations were to meet. It also threatened to scrap the historic meeting between its leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump on June 12 in Singapore. However, US maintained it was going ahead with summit preparations. Here's more.
North's statement may mar efforts to build denuclearized Korean Peninsula
The two Korean countries were expected to discuss ways to implement their leaders' recent agreements to reduce military tensions along their heavily fortified border and improve their overall ties. The North's statement is likely to mar efforts towards building a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.
Joint military drill reflects provocative racket against North Korea
North Korea said, "The joint exercise is a reflection of invariable stand of US and South Korea to persist in the 'maximum pressure and sanctions' against North-Korea." It also held South Korea "wholly accountable" for scuttled North-South talks. North Korea also said, "The US will have to think twice about North Korea-US summit before a provocative military racket against them in league with South-Korea."
Kim understands need of joint exercises with South Korea: US
US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said Kim had previously indicated that he understood the need and purpose of the US continuing its long-planned joint exercises with South Korea.
Military exercises are recurring; not provocative in nature: United States
According to Colonel Rob Manning, the Pentagon Spokesperson, South Korea Republic, and US military forces are currently engaged in recurring, annual ROK-US drills, to include exercises Foal Eagle 2018 and Max Thunder 2018. Refuting the allegations that exercises are provocative in nature, Manning said, "The purpose of training is to enhance the ROK-US Alliance's ability to defend the ROK and enhance interoperability and readiness."
