North Korea on November 23 condemned recent joint military exercises by the US, South Korea and Japan, warning that it would take immediate action to defend itself.
"We strongly warn the U.S. and other hostile forces to immediately stop their provocative and destabilizing acts that could push the situation on the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity into an actual armed conflict," the North Korean Defense Ministry said.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington during the Freedom Edge trilateral exercise between the US, Japan and South Korea in international waters south of the resort island of Jeju (South Korea) on November 14, 2024.
The ministry said that if necessary, the North Korean military will maintain all available options and take immediate action to control risks, while closely monitoring the military activities of the US and its allies, the KCNA news agency reported.
Last week, the United States, Japan and South Korea held a three-day joint military exercise called “Freedom Edge” in international waters south of the South Korean resort island of Jeju. The exercise involved fighter jets and maritime patrol aircraft as well as the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington.
In another development, South Korea accused Russia of supporting North Korea with oil, anti-aircraft missiles and the economy in exchange for Pyongyang deploying troops to support Moscow in the conflict in Ukraine, according to AFP.
US warns Russia over escalating Ukraine conflict with 'North Korean soldiers'
"It has been confirmed that anti-aircraft equipment and missiles aimed at strengthening the air defense system have been delivered to North Korea," South Korean National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik told SBS television. He added that North Korea has received various forms of economic assistance.
Mr. Lee Illwoo, an expert at the Korea Defense Network Agency, said that Russia may have sent S-400 long-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and ground-based radar systems to North Korea.
Meanwhile, the non-profit research group Open Source Centre (OSC-UK) said Pyongyang has been receiving oil shipments from Russia. According to a BBC report citing satellite images from the OSC, more than a dozen different North Korean tankers have called at an oil terminal in Russia's Far East a total of 43 times in the past eight months.
North Korea is the only country in the world that is not allowed to buy oil on the open market. The number of barrels of refined oil it can take in is limited by the United Nations to 500,000 barrels a year, far below its needs.
Russia and North Korea have not commented on the new information.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trieu-tien-len-an-tap-tran-my-nhat-han-185241123091249195.htm
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