“Constructive dialogue cannot be expected at a time when a simulated war practice targetted at the
dialogue partner is being conducted,” the statement continued. We remain unchanged in our stand to
resolve the issues through dialogue. But the dynamics of dialogue will be more invisible as long as the
hostile military moves continue.”
South Korea’s defence minister Jeong Kyeong-doo told a parliamentary hearing yesterday that the drills
have begun but did not provide specific details. The exercises were expected to be computer simulated and
not involve actual combat troops and equipment.
A spokesman for the US Department of Defense said they will “continue to monitor the situation and are
consulting closely with our South Korean and Japanese allies”.
Donald Trump, who had agreed to resume working-level nuclear talks when he met North Korean leader
Kim Jong-un in Singapore on 30 June, has so far played down the tests by saying they did not break any
agreement.
North Korea conducted a short-range ballistic launch on 25 July, which it described as a “solemn warning”
to South Korea over its plans to continue military drills with the United States. Last week it carried out
what it described as a test firing of a new multiple rocket launcher system. North Korea’s state media said it
was personally supervised by leader Kim Jong-un.
Experts claim the country is using sophisticated cyberattacks to illegally raise money to fund its weapons of
mass destruction programmes. In a new report to the UN Security Council, a panel monitoring sanctions
on the regime say that the total proceeds so far are up to $2bn (£1.6bn).
According to the report’s summary, North Korea is using cyber means “to illegally force the transfer of
funds from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges, launder stolen proceeds, and generate
income in evasion of financial sanctions”.