S. Korea closely watching N. Korea's summer military drills
SEOUL, July 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is keeping close tabs on movements related to North Korea's ongoing summertime military drills, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday, amid lingering concerns about possibilities of Pyongyang's provocations.
"Although there were torrential rains recently, the North Korean military has usually held its summer training starting in July," Col. Kim Jun-rak, the JCS spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. "We are paying keen attention to related movements."
The South's military has yet to detect any full-fledged activities related to the drills, like the movement of a large number of troops or heavy equipment, but there have been related maneuvers, an informed source said.
The North's training raised speculation that the recalcitrant regime could stage yet another show of force, like a ballistic missile launch, on the pretext of checking its security readiness.
Despite COVID-19, economic woes and other domestic challenges, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his regime's principle of "power for power and head-on contest" during last month's key ruling party session -- a move that stoked concerns about Pyongyang's future provocations.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
BTS' Jungkook's 'Seven' chosen as hottest hit outside U.S.
-
From pastime to academic discipline: Exhibition spotlights evolution of Korean embroidery
-
Gov't to open 10 trails near DMZ for visitors next month
-
Number of N. Korean defectors entering S. Korea reaches 43 in Q1
-
N. Korea dismantles S. Korean building near shuttered Kaesong complex
-
From pastime to academic discipline: Exhibition spotlights evolution of Korean embroidery
-
BTS' Jungkook's 'Seven' chosen as hottest hit outside U.S.
-
Trump suggests U.S. could withdraw its troops if S. Korea does not contribute more to support USFK: TIME
-
Number of N. Korean defectors entering S. Korea reaches 43 in Q1
-
(Yonhap Interview) U.S. will do 'all' it can to back S. Korea in case of China's economic coercion: official
-
Indonesia proposes cutting payment for joint fighter jet project with S. Korea to one-third
-
(Yonhap Interview) U.S. will do 'all' it can to back S. Korea in case of China's economic coercion: official
-
S. Korea's working-age population to dip nearly 10 mln by 2044 amid low births
-
N.K. leader calls on public security officials to 'firmly defend' state unity
-
S. Korea to participate in U.S.-led cyber exercise this week