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DPRK demands US cancel military drill with ROK

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-02 22:47

SEOUL -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) demanded Monday that the US call off its annual military drill with the Republic of Korea (ROK), a report said, as talks between the DPRK and UN forces ended.

Yonhap news agency of ROK said the DPRK made the demand during talks with the US-led UN Command at the Korean border village of Panmunjom, held for the first time in nearly seven years. It came amid fears the DPRK is gearing up to test-launch a missile believed capable of reaching US territory.

Yonhap quoted an unnamed ROK military official as saying the DPRK warned the upcoming drill would "further stir up" tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Related readings:  DPRK, UN Command hold military talks at Panmunjom  Seoul asks DPRK to return to talks

The report said the UN Command insisted that the exercise - involving 26,000 American troops, an unspecified number of ROK soldiers and a US aircraft carrier - is purely defensive and not preparation for an invasion as the DPRK claims.

The DPRK has condemned the US-ROK military drills as preparation for an invasion.

Both the UN Command and the ROK's Defense Ministry said they couldn't confirm the report.

The UN Command only said the sides discussed "measures to reduce tension and introduce transparency" and agreed to further meetings during a half-hour of talks.

"The UNC welcomed this discussion with North Korea which holds the prospect for building trust and preventing misunderstandings between both sides," the statement quoted the command's chief delegate Maj. Gen. Johnny Weida as saying.