North Korea threatens 'physical response' to U.S. military exercise

Hanoi, Vietnam (News Today) - North Korea vowed Friday that there would be a "physical response" in reaction to the planned joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea.

"There will be a physical response against the threat imposed by the United States militarily," North Korea spokesman Ri Tong Il told reporters outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting.

About 8,000 military personnel from the United States and South Korea are scheduled to participate in joint military exercises beginning this weekend.

Earlier Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sharply criticized North Korea in prepared remarks at the meeting.

"Peaceful resolution of the issues on the Korean Peninsula will be possible only if North Korea fundamentally changes its behavior," she said.

Clinton said North Korea was responsible for the March attack on South Korea's Cheonan warship, which killed 46 South Korean sailors.

An international investigation blamed North Korea for the sinking, an assertion the North has denied. Earlier this month, the United Nations formally condemned the sinking of the ship, but did not specifically name North Korea.

But Clinton was clear in her condemnation Friday.

"Here in Asia, an isolated and belligerent North Korea has embarked on a campaign of provocative, dangerous behavior," she said.

Ri described the planned U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise as "another example of a hostile policy" against North Korea.

"It is a grave threat to the Korean peninsula and also to the region of Asia as a whole," he said.

He said the exercise was against North Korea's sovereignty and security.

The military exercise, dubbed "Invincible Spirit," is scheduled to run from July 25 to July 28. In addition to the 8,000 personnel involved, military officials say it will include 20 ships and submarines and about 200 aircraft.

"The purpose of this readiness exercise is to highlight Alliance resolve to face any threat North Korea may pose," the Combined Alliance Joint Naval and Air Exercises said said in a statement announcing the military exercises Tuesday.

Gen. Han Min-koo, chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in Tuesday's statement that the exercises will show the military's readiness and resolve.

"We stand fully prepared to respond militarily to any further North Korean provocation," he said.

Source : CNN

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