Kim Yo Jong, deputy-department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued the following press statement on August 10:

The US and the south Korean army started joint military exercises further aggravating the unstable situation despite the unanimous denunciation and rejection at home and abroad.

The joint military exercises are divided into an "exercise of the staff for crisis control" from August 10 to 13 and a "combined command exercise" from August 16 to 26. They are the most vivid expression of the US policy hostile towards the DPRK, designed to stifle our state by force, and an unwelcoming act of self-destruction for which a dear price should be paid as they threaten the safety of our people and further imperil the situation on the Korean peninsula.

The dangerous war exercises pushed ahead with by the US and the south Korean side in defiance of our repeated warnings will surely make themselves face more serious security threat.

Whatever the scale and mode, the joint military exercises are of aggressive nature as they are a war rehearsal and preliminary nuclear war exercise for further rounding off the preparations for putting into practice the operational plans with the preemptive strike at us as the gist.

Every March and August, military tension and the danger of conflict flare up in and around the Korean peninsula due to the war frenzy of the US and south Korea.

The US, which doggedly pushes ahead with the aggression war drills at such a sensitive time as now when the eyes of the world are on the development of the situation on the Korean peninsula, is indeed the chief architect destroying peace and stability in the region. This also shows that "diplomatic engagement" and "dialogue with no strings attached" touted by the present US administration is hypocrisy to cover up its aggressive nature.

The prevailing situation proves once again that we were quite just when we decided to steadily build up the capabilities for national defence.

For peace to settle on the peninsula, it is imperative for the US to withdraw its aggression troops and war hardware deployed in south Korea.

As long as the US troops stay in south Korea, the root cause for the periodic aggravation of the situation on the Korean peninsula will never vanish.

The reality proves that only substantial deterrent, not words, can ensure the peace and security of the Korean peninsula, and that it is a vital requirement for us to build up the force powerful enough to contain the external threats to us.

We have already clarified that we will counter the US on the principle of power for power and goodwill for goodwill.

We will put more spur to further increasing the deterrent of absolute capacity to cope with the ever-growing military threats from the US, i.e., the national defence capabilities and powerful preemptive strike for rapidly countering any military actions against us.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I express my deep regret at the perfidious behaviour of the south Korean authorities.

I release this press statement upon authorization.