North Korean Media Claims the South Conducting Military Exercises with the U.S. Is the Same as "An Arsonist Claiming to Put out the Fire"

On August 18, during training prior to the ROK-US military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, a K1 tank stands by for training at the border area in Paju-si, Gyeonggi. Yonhap News

North Korean media outlets continued criticizing South Korea on August 23, the second day of the ROK-US military exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS).

The North Korean media outlet, Uriminzokkiri, released a comment this day and said, “The Ulchi Freedom Shield is the most daring exercise to invade North Korea, assuming that there will be a military invasion of our country.”

It continued and said, “The argument that the joint military exercise guarantees peace and safety is as absurd as an arsonist claiming to put out the fire.” It argued, “The joint military exercise is driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula to a perilous state.” It also warned, “It is common knowledge that with the two sides in sharp confrontation, a trifle accidental clash can spread to an uncontrollable disaster and to an all-out war.”

Another North Korean media outlet, Meari accused South Korea of spending taxpayers’ money to purchase state-of-the-art weapons and to engage in war exercises to invade North Korea, “driving the South’s already challenging economy and the troubled people’s livelihood into a worse state.”

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which is to prepare for regional provocations and a full-scale war triggered by North Korea, will continue until September 1. The exercise consists of two parts. Part one involves a transition to war footing and exercises to drive back North Korean attacks and to defend the Seoul capital area. Part two involves counterattack strategies to ensure safety in the greater Seoul area.