August 04, 2010 11:45
North Korea's military threatened Tuesday to mount a "strong physical counterattack" in response to a South Korean anti-submarine drill planned near the sea border with the North this week.
According to the North's official KCNA news agency, the command in charge of western sea border defense said in a statement, "The maritime shooting disturbance, planned in waters near Baeknyeong, Daecheong and Yeonpyeong islands by the puppet military's warmongers mobilizing terrestrial, maritime, and underwater means of attack, is a naked military invasion of our Republic's sacred territorial waters. To repel fire with fire is the immutable will and firm determination of our military and people."
South Korea plans to stage a five-day anti-submarine drill beginning Thursday off the west coast to improve its defense capabilities in the aftermath of the North's torpedoing and sinking the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan in March. Some 20 warships including a 4,500-ton destroyer, 1,800-ton submarines, F-15K and KF-16 fighters and anti-submarine helicopters are slated to take part.
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