S. Korea-US. 'Hoguk' War Exercises under Fire

Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the National Peace Committee of Korea (NPCK) Friday issued the following statement:

Large-scale madcap war exercises "Hoguk" kicked off by the south Korean puppet forces together with U.S. forces against the DPRK are now going on across south Korea.

Involved in the saber-rattling to be staged from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2 are all regular and civilian forces including the three services of the south Korean army, marine corps, police and reserve forces. They number at least 240 000, over 100 000 more than those involved last year. The on-going military maneuvers involving even U.S. imperialist aggression forces in south Korea are now being staged under the simulated conditions of an actual war according to the carefully worked out operational scenario for invading the north. They include drills for sudden armed invasion such as landing and air strike at regions of the DPRK.

All parts of south Korea are now disturbed with madcap three dimensional war drills in the sky and on the ground and in seas.

The U.S. and south Korean militaries held an annual security consultative meeting in Washington on Oct. 24 at which they adopted a joint statement calling for rounding off the plans for preemptive attack on the DPRK through various forms of joint military exercises, talking about the "threat" from it.

The evermore tightened military tie-up between the U.S. and south Korea and their escalating moves for a war have created such a grave situation on the peninsula that even a small clash may spark off an all-out war in a moment.

Their large-scale war exercises for a war against the DPRK are an unpardonable challenge to all Koreans and the international community desirous of peace and stability on the peninsula and a deliberate military provocation to ignite a new war.

The on-going saber-rattling is fraught with ever greater danger as it is under way on an unprecedentedly large scale at a time when the inter-Korean relations have been pushed to the lowest ebb due to the south Korean puppet group's anti-DPRK confrontation hysteria.

Before kicking off the current war drills, traitor Lee Myung Bak ridiculously toured Yonphyong Island to stoke extreme hostility and war fever while warmongers of the south Korean military vied with each to inspect forefront units to kick up war hysteria.

A few days ago they openly attempted to carry out the operations for scattering leaflets malignantly defaming the social system in the north with despicable human scum involved.

This clearly indicates that they are escalating their reckless provocations against the DPRK under a deliberate plan, backed by the U.S.

The prevailing situation goes to prove that it is impossible to ensure peace on this land and security in Northeast Asia if the Lee Myung Bak group's desperate moves to escalate the confrontation with fellow countrymen and the reckless war moves are left unchecked.

Steadfast is the stand of the DPRK to protect peace on the peninsula and security of the region.

Should the south Korean group of traitors ignite a war to the last in conspiracy with the U.S., the DPRK will wipe out the aggressors to the last one through all-out retaliation and merciless counterattack.

All the service personnel and people of the DPRK will wage a do-or-die battle against the aggressors to exalt the dignity of the powerful Paektusan nation and thus put an end to the tragedy of national split that has lasted for several decades and build a rich and prosperous reunified thriving nation on this land.

The NPCK expresses expectation that all Koreans and peace-loving people of the world will positively turn out in the just struggle to frustrate the reckless war moves of the U.S. and Lee Myung Bak group and protect peace on the peninsula. -0-