North Korean authorities demand stop to joint military drills of South Korea, US

The authorities of North Korea demand that South Korea and the United States refuse holding joint military drills on the Korean Peninsula, according to a commentary published on Monday by North Korean daily Rodong Sinmun.

"As it was clearly promised during the negotiations between the North and South, there must be no joint military exercises involving foreign forces for the sake of the further development of peace and prosperity," the daily reported. "The eradication of the nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula and provision for the atmosphere of peace are the obligatory conditions for the development of inter-Korean relations."

According to the newspaper, South Korea must also refuse further supplies of weapons from abroad. "The import of military-oriented products, which include strategic weapons, must be completely stopped."

Joint maneuvers of the South Korean and American military forces, according to the newspaper, are viewed by North Korea as military provocations and are frustrating efforts regarding the development of a productive dialogue between the North and South Korea.

"There can be no sincere talks, moreover, the improvement of inter-Korean relations, while the sound of rifles and cannons is still loud and the threat of war remains," according to the newspapers’ experts.

A summit of the leaders of South and North Korea took place in South Korea on April 27, which political scientists described as a precursor to a meeting of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un signed the Panmunjeom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula.

During the talks, the sides agreed to seek the Korean Peninsula’s full denuclearization and formally put an end to the Korean war of 1950-1953 that ended with the signing of a truce treaty. The militaries of both countries have agreed to maintain constant contacts, including at the level of the defense ministers.

A historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12 yielded a joint document where North Korea undertook a commitment to work towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from the United States.