South Korea rejected Russia's criticism on Thursday of the joint military exercises it is conducting with the United States, affirming that these drills are of a defensive nature and aim to enhance peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Yonhap News Agency quoted the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying in a statement: "The joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States are of a defensive nature and are held annually to maintain a strong joint defense posture in response to the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea."
The Ministry added: "These exercises contribute to establishing peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in Northeast Asia."
Seoul and Washington began joint exercises on October 26, which will continue until November 6, focusing on air defense and interception missions, with the aim of enhancing operational coordination and joint capabilities of the allies in wartime.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had considered on Tuesday that the maneuvers aim to "train for launching preemptive strikes" against North Korea, including using nuclear weapons, and urged Seoul to "respect the sovereign right of Pyongyang" to ensure its security.
Seoul and Washington conduct joint military exercises throughout the year, including regular large-scale exercises and field exercises, while North Korea and Russia work to deepen their military relations since signing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in 2024, which includes a mutual defense clause.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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