Moon urges North Korea to stay calm during UFG exercise

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae following the start of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercise, Monday. Moon warned Pyongyang not to use the annual drill as a pretext for provocations. //Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

President Moon Jae-in warned North Korea, Monday, not to take any provocative actions to protest the regular South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) joint military exercise.

Pyongyang has always protested the regular drills, claiming the 10-day exercise is a rehearsal for the invasion of the North, and has often conducted provocations during or after the drill.

This year’s UFG comes amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula following Pyongyang’s recent launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), and threats to strike the U.S. territory of Guam.

“UFG is aimed at checking the defense preparations of the government and the military to protect people’s lives and security; it is a regular, annual drill for defense and does not intend to raise military tension on the peninsula,” Moon said in a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae held in line with the exercise.

“North Korea should not distort South Korea’s efforts to keep the peace; using this as a pretext, it should not make provocations that could worsen the situation. Rather, Pyongyang should realize that its continuous nuclear and missile tests are causing a vicious circle of joint exercises and provocations.”

Moon said the security situation on the peninsula is graver than ever. He said the North is moving to advance its missile technologies, while the international community is intensifying pressure and sanctions to prevent this.

“The government will make every effort to prevent this situation from developing into the possibility of a war, based on the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and in cooperation with the international community,” the President said.

He reaffirmed his openness for dialogue to resolve issues peacefully, as he proposed in a July speech in Berlin.

“I urge Pyongyang to stop provocations and its menacing speeches, and to accept the message for dialogue proposed by Seoul and the international community,” the President said. “If it makes a brave decision, the military tension surrounding the peninsula will be eased and we can keep peace here on our own, bringing a stable and prosperous future by cooperating with the international community.”

He also convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting attended by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon, National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong and the ministers of foreign affairs, defense, unification and interior. Gen. Vincent Brooks, commander of the Combined Forces Command and the U.S. Forces Korea, and Gen. Jeong Kyeong-doo, the new Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, also participated in the meeting via teleconferencing.

Jeong and Brooks briefed Moon on the current military situation and the South Korean and the U.S. militaries’ plans for any possible North Korean provocations, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

About 17,500 U.S. service members will participate in this year’s exercise, down from last year’s 25,000. It is not known yet whether U.S. strategic assets such as B-1B heavy bombers and nuclear-powered submarines will be deployed for the exercise. The North has reacted angrily toward the deployment of such assets to the peninsula.