Russian Foreign Ministry Claims ROK-US Military Exercises Cause Instability on Korean Peninsula

▲ U.S. F-16 and South Korean F-16K fighter jets conduct a joint flight on October 27.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed on the 3rd, local time, that joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States are causing instability on the Korean Peninsula.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, in response to a media observation that tensions are sharply escalating on the Korean Peninsula, particularly around the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Zakharova stated, "Unfortunately, the situation on the Korean Peninsula shows no signs of stabilizing and is instead continuing to worsen."

Zakharova argued, "The current signs of instability are emerging amid large-scale military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea near the border with North Korea." She added, "Such exercises are explicitly provocative in nature and, as the participating countries themselves admit, aim to practice preemptive strikes against North Korea, including the use of nuclear weapons."

Mentioning recently conducted joint military exercises by South Korea and the U.S., such as the Iron Mace exercise, Freedom Flag exercise, and South Korea's Hoguk exercise, Zakharova said, "The measures taken by Pyongyang (North Korea) to strengthen its security and defense capabilities are completely legitimate and justified."

Zakharova further urged South Korea, stating, "Instead of seeking pretexts to condemn North Korea and making declarative calls for peace, it must immediately halt dangerous military exercises and provocations in the Demilitarized Zone."

(Photo provided by the Air Force, Yonhap News)

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