[imText1]The Western Region Command of the North Korean People’s Army has threatened to attack South Korea over its intended military exercises in the seas around the sight of the Cheonan sinking.
“We have decisively resolved to repress it with powerful retaliation,” a statement released on Tuesday announced.
According to the statement, carried by Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA), “The belligerent puppet military authorities’ sea firing commotion in the sea near Baekryeong, Daecheong and Yeonpyeong islands which is scheduled for August is not a simple exercise, it is a military invasion into the territorial waters of our Republic (North Korea) and a reckless political provocation in order to stick to the illegal Northern Limit Line (NLL).”
It stressed, “While the anti-Republic maneuvers of the puppets started with the Cheonan incident as the significant, unforgivable provocation, this maritime firing commotion is a military invasion aimed at our right to self-defense.”
“As we have already publicized, there is only one maritime boundary line in the West Sea of Chosun, which we have declared internationally and domestically,” it went on.
It warned, “Since our self-defensive counter-attack is predictable, we declare that ships and other private vessels should not enter the firing area of the betrayer factions in that sea near the five islands. The strong determination of our people and army is to control fire with fire.”
The North Korean military insisted on the new maritime boundary line in the West Sea in talks between generals in Panmunjom after the first inter-Korean naval battle around Yeonpyeong Island in June, 1999, and then, in September of the same year, the North unilaterally declared a marine military controlled zone in a special report by the General Staff of the North Korean People’s Army. The North Korean claim is not internationally recognized.
The South Korean military plans to conduct the joint anti-submarine exercises with the army, navy and air force from the 5th to 9th August. A range of vessels, submarines and aircraft are set to take part in the exercises in the seas around Baekryeong Island, where the Cheonan went down, and Yeonpyong Island.
