North Korea, angry at the “Key-Resolve” South Korea-U.S. joint military drill, can no longer guarantee the safety of South Korean civilian airplanes within North Korean airspace, according to a statement released yesterday.

The statement by the North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) claimed, “Now, we have reached a status where we do not know if a military collision will occur due to the indiscreet invasion drill by the South Korean puppet factions and the U.S. We therefore declare that we are unable to guarantee South Chosun (Korea) civilian aircraft flying in our airspace and over the East Sea during the period of the drill.”

North Korea has maintained a hard-line stance, not against the U.S. but against South Korea, insisting daily that the “Key-Resolve” drill, which is due to last for two weeks starting on the 9th March, be cancelled.

Minju Chosun (Democratic North Korea), a publication put out by the North Korean Cabinet, asserted in its editorial on the 5th that “Key-Resolve” and “Foal Eagle,” two South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, are obvious “incendiary fire for an aggressive war,” adding that, “It is certain that the South will have to suffer the consequences of it.”

Rodong Shinmun, the newspaper by the Workers’ Party, warned on the 4th, “If South Korea dares to carry out the provocative acts, ignoring our repeated warnings, it will be mercilessly attacked. If South Korea invades just 0.001 millimeter of our territory, we will pay them back hundreds and thousands of times the attacks, with all our might.”

Meanwhile, in reaction to the North’s statement, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said in a press briefing, “These are annual exercises between the Republic of Korea and our U.S. forces in Korea.” He added. “I’m not aware of any component of the exercise which would necessitate flying either Korean or U.S. aircraft into North Korean airspace.”

Deputy Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid also made comments on the subject in his daily press briefing, saying, “They are distinctly unhelpful. The North Koreans should be working on their commitments to the Six-Party Talks, to the Six Parties, and fulfilling their agreements under the Six-Party Talks rather than making statements that are threatening to peaceful aviation.”