Pyongyang vows "crushing" response to US-South Korean exercises
Pyongyang vowed Monday that it would respond to joint exercises between the United States and South Korea with "firm and crushing" military measures, after a record series of missile launches in recent days.
This new warning came in response to a joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea, the largest ever for their air forces, which they called "Awakening Storm."
On Monday, the North's official news agency quoted the General Staff of the "Korean People's Army" as saying in a statement that it will respond to "all the enemy's war exercises against the DPRK with sustainable, resolute, crushing and practical military measures," using the official name of North Korea.
The General Staff indicated that it had fired tactical ballistic missiles that simulated attacks on air bases and had trained to shoot down enemy planes.
It said a ballistic missile was launched to test a "special functional warhead that paralyzes the enemy's operational command system," without giving further details about this weapon.
The North Korean Air Force also carried out "large-scale combat sorties" that included 500 aircraft, according to the North's official news agency.
This mobilization prompted the south to deploy combat aircraft on Friday.
Footage of North Korea's military operations published by the North's official news agency on Monday showed missiles being launched from various undisclosed locations, including mobile launchers.
During the "Awakening Storm" maneuvers, North Korea launched dozens of ballistic missiles into the sea, one of which landed near the southern territorial waters, sparking condemnation from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yul.
North Korea's General Staff also noted that North Korea's recent ballistic missile tests constituted a "clear response" to the US-South Korean joint military exercises.
The General Staff described the "Awakening Storm" maneuvers as "a provocation aimed at deliberately raising tension in the region."
"The more provocative military actions of the enemies continue, the more accurately and harshly the KPA will confront them," she added.
The United States and South Korea warned that the missile launches could be a prelude to a new North Korean nuclear test, and extended their largest-ever air exercises until Saturday in response.
On Saturday, the exercises, during which the US Air Force deployed two long-range B-1B bombers, concluded on the final day of a show of force.
While the B-1B supersonic bomber no longer carries nuclear weapons, the US Air Force considers it the "backbone of the long-range bomber" capable of striking anywhere in the world.
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