North Korea displayed a less offensive attitude toward South Korea during this year's joint South-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) military exercise, which began on Aug. 18 and ended Thursday.
However, the North's criticism of its "American enemies" remained consistent.
North Korea threatened a "preemptive and merciless strike" in a statement released the day before the military drills started.
It then publicly blamed the United States, describing UFG as an "American crime scheme" on the first day of the exercise, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as a wolf with a "hideous lantern jaw" on Aug 20.
Despite this rhetoric, the North's public attitude toward the annual UFG exercise has generally been significantly different from that in previous years.
In 2012, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a military base and delivered a threatening statement toward South Korea during the joint drills.
The North has traditionally released strongly worded statements throughout the previous training periods, in contrast to this year.
Experts say that this may be a sign of improving relations between the two Koreas in recent months.
For example, North Korea is expected send 273 athletes to take part in next month's Incheon Asian Games.
However, the North's criticism of its "American enemies" remained consistent.
North Korea threatened a "preemptive and merciless strike" in a statement released the day before the military drills started.
It then publicly blamed the United States, describing UFG as an "American crime scheme" on the first day of the exercise, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as a wolf with a "hideous lantern jaw" on Aug 20.
Despite this rhetoric, the North's public attitude toward the annual UFG exercise has generally been significantly different from that in previous years.
In 2012, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a military base and delivered a threatening statement toward South Korea during the joint drills.
The North has traditionally released strongly worded statements throughout the previous training periods, in contrast to this year.
Experts say that this may be a sign of improving relations between the two Koreas in recent months.
For example, North Korea is expected send 273 athletes to take part in next month's Incheon Asian Games.
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