On Tuesday, North Korea sent a threat to the United States and South Korea through their state-run news agency that they would “launch merciless ultra-precision strikes” against the two nations. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued a statement from the government of North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and criticized the U.S. and South Korean joint exercise meant to simulate “incapacitating North Korea.”
“If they infringe on the DPRK’s sovereignty and dignity even a bit, its army will launch merciless ultra-precision strikes from ground, air, sea and underwater,” the KCNA reported, according to Reuters.
“On March 11 alone, many enemy carrier-based aircraft flew along a course near territorial air and waters of the DPRK to stage drills of dropping bombs and making surprise attacks on the ground targets of its army,” the report on KCNA continued.
The United States is currently conducting “routine operations” in the South China Sea off the coast of South Korea. The USS Carl Vinson strike group was deployed to the region last month to conduct a “freedom of navigation” operation.
According to Reuters, Rear Admiral James W. Kilby, the Commander of the Carrier Strike Group 1, said “While this is a routine deployment for the Carl Vinson strike group, really the centerpiece for us … is this exercise we’re doing with the ROK navy called ‘Foal Eagle’.”
On Monday, Yonhap, a South Korean news agency reported that U.S. and South Korean troops will be taking part in a joint military exercise “to practice incapacitating North Korean leadership in the case of conflict.” The joint forces team, which includes U.S. forces such as SEAL Team Six, will participate in “Foal Eagle and Key Resolve” exercises, which includes the “Soaring Eagle” exercise aimed at enhancing “the ability to shoot down enemy missiles and strike core military facilities in North Korea.”
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