A top North Korean military official accused the U.S. and South Korea of conducting an “aggressive provocation” by going ahead with joint air force drills this week and warned of consequences if the drills turn into an invasion, according to state media.
Korean People’s Army (KPA) Marshal and Politburo Presidium member Pak Jong Chon said he “estimates” Washington chose the code name “Vigilant Storm” for the drills as an “omen” or message to Pyongyang, harking back to the U.S.’s 1991 air offensive against Iraq named “Operation Desert Storm,” the state-run Voice of Korea reported midday Tuesday (U.S. time).
A top North Korean military official accused the U.S. and South Korea of conducting an “aggressive provocation” by going ahead with joint air force drills this week and warned of consequences if the drills turn into an invasion, according to state media.
Korean People’s Army (KPA) Marshal and Politburo Presidium member Pak Jong Chon said he “estimates” Washington chose the code name “Vigilant Storm” for the drills as an “omen” or message to Pyongyang, harking back to the U.S.’s 1991 air offensive against Iraq named “Operation Desert Storm,” the state-run Voice of Korea reported midday Tuesday (U.S. time).
Chad O’Carroll is the founder of NK News/NK Pro and related holding company Korea Risk Group. In addition to being the group’s CEO, O’Carroll is a frequent writer and commentator about the Koreas, having written about the two nations since 2010. He has visited the DPRK multiple times, worked and lived in Washington, D.C. with a focus on peninsula issues, and lived in the ROK since 2016.
Colin Zwirko is a Senior Analytic Correspondent for NK News based in Seoul. Follow him on Twitter @ColinZwirko.
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