US-ROK joint military drill will only highlight fact that enemy is enemy: KCNA commentary
The commentary said the US-ROK large-scale joint military drill "Ulji Freedom Shield" officially started on August 18, and continued:
The drill is bringing together the US forces in the Republic of Korea and the forces of the ROK army as the main, and the expedition of the US marines and armed forces of "UN Command" member states outside the region. And more than 580,000 persons from 4,000-odd institutions and organizations across the Republic of Korea are participating in the drill. The scale of the drill is very enormous and the number of planned field mobile exercises is at the highest level.
The enemies are claiming that some items of the field mobile exercises will be postponed to next month, but the basic exercises reflected in the US-ROK joint drill plan are carried out as they are. Only the dirty drills to be staged by the ROK army alone will be carried over. The fact proves once again that the drill adjustment farce being staged by the present US and ROK authorities as if it was a measure different to the preceding drill is nothing but a deceptive trick.
In view of the facts of the past and the present, the aggressive and provocative nature of the US-ROK large-scale joint military drill and its negative impact on the situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region remain unchanged. The world people should know clearly what is the source of disaster harming the security of the Korean peninsula and the region and why we call enemies also enemies.
As long as the hostile entity against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains unchanged, there will be no change in the thoroughgoing and merciless will of our armed forces to counter the military provocations of the enemy states, and the trustworthy strength of the DPRK racing for lasting peace settlement on the Korean peninsula and in the region will steadily increase.
The firm will and ability of the DPRK to defend the sovereignty and security of the country against the US-ROK joint military drill which is immutable in hostility will be clearly expressed as practical actions, and it is clear that the DPRK's counteraction will be proactive and overwhelming, the commentary stressed.