North Korea Condemns US-South Korea Military Drills; Overhauls Senior Leadership

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Pyongyang: North Korean state media has condemned recent joint US-South Korea military exercises as an attempt to deter Pyongyang by force, while simultaneously announcing a major overhaul of its senior military leadership.

According to state news agency KCNA, the military drills involved guided-missile destroyers, anti-submarine helicopters off Pyeongtaek, and US F-16 fighter deployments across South Korea and Japan, with Pyongyang accusing Washington of destroying the strategic security balance in the region. 

The criticism comes despite a recent offer from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to draw up a clear boundary along the Military Demarcation Line to prevent border clashes, a proposal to which North Korea has not yet responded.

Alongside its warnings over the drills, KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un has appointed Kim Song-gi as the country's new defense minister, moving him from director of the military's political bureau to replace No Kwang-chol, who was reassigned to the Munitions Industry Department. 

Veteran strategist Pak Jong-chon was also restored as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission as Kim honored defense scientists for advancing weapons technology amid deepening ties with Russia.

Pic Credit: AFP