ROK, US to stage drill as scheduled

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) military said Thursday that it will carry out a joint military exercise with the United States this month as scheduled despite the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s call for the cancellation.

Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told a press briefing that the Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) joint military exercise would be surely necessary.

The ROK military will continue to stage the UFG exercise, which is annually held and of defensive nature, regardless of the DPRK's stance, the spokesman said, adding that the exercise will start from next week.

The DPRK has denounced the computer-assisted simulation exercise as a rehearsal for the northward invasion.

The DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea announced a statement earlier Thursday, saying that the drill " will push the situation to the brink of a war."

The committee urged the ROK to cancel the joint military exercise, asking the ROK to stop depending on foreign forces and pull down barriers that impede unity and reconciliation between the two Koreas.

In protest against the drill, Pyongyang launched two short- range projectiles in the afternoon into eastern waters after firing three projectiles in the morning.

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DPRK urges ROK to cancel military drills