By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
Just one day after demanding South Korea put a stop to joint military drills with the United States, North Korean state media reported on the reclusive nation’s own exercises Thursday -- which were described by leader Kim Jong-un as "war preparations".
Kim guided a rare Air Force combat contest at Wonsan’s Kalma Airport, according to Pyongyang’s official KCNA news agency.
The report claimed that this had been only the North’s second ever contest of its kind, as the military state has been celebrating what it regards as the anniversary of Victory Day -- in reality, this week marked 62 years since an armistice agreement brought a truce to the Korean War.
North Korea’s leader was also directly quoted as referring to the U.S. as a "chieftain of aggression" and South Korea’s government as a "puppet group".
Pyongyang has repeatedly demanded that Seoul and Washington abandon joint drills, particularly given the ongoing presence of nearly 30,000 U.S. military personnel in South Korea.
A statement from the North’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday had suggested that talks might be "possible" if the allies were to abandon their exercises.
Seoul's Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok brushed aside the comment at a briefing Thursday, insisting that the joint drills are defensive in nature and “a must-have” to prepare against a potential North Korean invasion.
Inter-Korean dialogue has stuttered in recent months despite apparent efforts by both sides -- but next week’s ASEAN Regional Forum in Malaysia may be an opportunity for South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se to meet his counterpart Ri Su-yong.
