South Korea Begins Anti-submarine Drills, Angering North
- 14 years ago
South Korea has started conducting another series of joint military drills with the United States on Monday near its disputed sea border with the North.
The drills are focused on deterring North Korean submarine attacks.
[Won Taejae, Defense Ministry Spokesman, South Korea]:
"The Cheonan accident is now in the past. Also the government has various factors to consider when it comes to the inter-Korea relations and military policies. There are also projects going on under the Unification Ministry."
Tensions are high this year after the South accused North Korea of torpedoing one of its navy ships, killing 46 sailor.
Pyongyang denies the charge and threatened to retaliate by force if Seoul imposes sanctions.
Meanwhile, a small group of anti-war protesters held a rally to denounce the start of the military drills despite the warming mood.
[You Youngjae, Protest Leader]:
“There has been series of joint war exercises, which has brought military tensions on the Korean peninsula. We urge the two countries to stop the war exercises against the North and solve the problem with dialogues and negotiations."
North Korea also strongly denounced the series of joint military drills. The North's state-television KRT said the exercise will chill the mounting atmosphere of improved inter-Korean relations and aggravate the confrontation.
The North has made conciliatory gestures in recent weeks, engaging in dialogue with the South over flood aid and family reunions. The North is also willing to restart talks with regional powers aimed at scrapping its nuclear arms projects in return for economic aid.
The drills are focused on deterring North Korean submarine attacks.
[Won Taejae, Defense Ministry Spokesman, South Korea]:
"The Cheonan accident is now in the past. Also the government has various factors to consider when it comes to the inter-Korea relations and military policies. There are also projects going on under the Unification Ministry."
Tensions are high this year after the South accused North Korea of torpedoing one of its navy ships, killing 46 sailor.
Pyongyang denies the charge and threatened to retaliate by force if Seoul imposes sanctions.
Meanwhile, a small group of anti-war protesters held a rally to denounce the start of the military drills despite the warming mood.
[You Youngjae, Protest Leader]:
“There has been series of joint war exercises, which has brought military tensions on the Korean peninsula. We urge the two countries to stop the war exercises against the North and solve the problem with dialogues and negotiations."
North Korea also strongly denounced the series of joint military drills. The North's state-television KRT said the exercise will chill the mounting atmosphere of improved inter-Korean relations and aggravate the confrontation.
The North has made conciliatory gestures in recent weeks, engaging in dialogue with the South over flood aid and family reunions. The North is also willing to restart talks with regional powers aimed at scrapping its nuclear arms projects in return for economic aid.