North Korea "General Staff Orders Warning Artillery Fire"... Another Excuse Against ROK-US Drills

North Korean Artillery Unit Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The North Korean military has once again criticized the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and ordered retaliatory fire in response.

The General Staff of the North Korean military stated in a spokesperson's announcement on the 6th, "Following yesterday, the 5th, there have been reports that the enemy once again fired multiple rocket launchers and howitzers near the front line starting around 9:15 a.m. on the 6th."

It continued, "The General Staff has issued an emergency directive to all levels of units, including the People's Army front-line artillery units, to be on combat alert and to strengthen enemy surveillance," adding, "An order was given to the designated front-line artillery units to immediately conduct live-fire naval artillery shots as a strong warning response."

In particular, it emphasized, "The enemy must immediately cease provocative military actions near the front line."

Our military and the U.S. Forces Korea are reported to have conducted firing exercises, including multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), in the Cheorwon area of Gangwon Province, continuing from the previous day. The North had also criticized the South Korea-U.S. military exercises the day before and carried out about 130 live naval artillery shots as a warning.