Pyongyang [North Korea], April 17: The KCNA news agency reported on April 17 that North Korea criticized the United States for deploying B-1B strategic bombers during recent joint exercises with South Korea.
A spokesman for North Korea's Defense Ministry said that the deployment of U.S. strategic bombers in the region had become a "routine military operation," calling it a "reckless deception," according to KCNA, citing a statement from the North Korean Defense Ministry.
In the statement, North Korea's Defense Ministry also emphasized that the recent military moves by the United States and South Korea "are a public threat to the security of our state."
There is no information about the reaction of the United States or South Korea to the North Korean Defense Ministry's statement.
Earlier, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense announced on April 15 that South Korea and the United States held joint air exercises on the Korean Peninsula, with the participation of B-1B bombers from the United States. Also participating in the exercise were South Korean F-35A and F-16 fighter jets and U.S. F-16s, according to Yonhap.
South Korea's Defense Ministry emphasized that the new drills were intended to demonstrate the capabilities of allies in responding to rising nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. This is the second similar joint exercise by the United States and South Korea since the beginning of the year, after the drill on February 20.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
