KCNA Commentary Urges U.S. to Stop Introducing Nuclear Strategic Assets

Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- The U.S. and south Korea are staging the large-scale 2018 Max Thunder air combat drill (from May 11 through 25). At a time when the DPRK-U.S. summit is approaching, the U.S. has launched the largest-ever drill involving B-52 strategic nuclear bomber, F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and other nuclear strategic assets. This is an extremely provocative and ill-boding act of going against the trend for peace and security in the Korean peninsula and dialogue atmosphere. The above drill involving nuclear strategic assets is nothing helpful to the development of situation in the Korean peninsula. An atmosphere of détente and reconciliation has now been created on the Korean peninsula thanks to the proactive efforts made by the DPRK. But the U.S. is going against all the peace-loving efforts and good faith the DPRK has shown so far in practice. Making up the majority proportion in the U.S. are those calling for the Korea policy emphasizing pressure, and high-ranking officials of the White House and the State Department unhesitatingly make ill-boding remarks getting on the nerves of the dialogue partner. The U.S. introduction of huge strategic assets into the joint air combat drill can never be justified as it is an arrogant act of going against the DPRK's sincere efforts to end the deep-rooted hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S. and provide the environment of lasting peace on the peninsula, and a deliberate provocation to the dialogue partner. The U.S. continued introduction of nuclear strategic assets has exposed the process for détente on the peninsula to vulnerability and clouded the prospect of the upcoming DPRK-U.S. summit, to say nothing of suspending the north-south high-level talks that was just around the corner. It is a universally recognized maxim that no issue can be implemented through the efforts of only one side and that good results can be expected only when both sides create favorable conditions and environment by joint efforts. The U.S. should not misjudge the DPRK's peace-loving willingness as an expression of weakness but stop act of rattling the dialogue partner through continued introduction of nuclear strategic assets. If it truly wishes for dialogue, it should come out to positively respond to the DPRK's pro-active measures for world peace, not posing threat to the peace and security on the Korean peninsula through the introduction of nuclear strategic assets. -0-