DPRK may launch offensive in response to US-SKorea exercises.

27/2 Tass 72

PYONGYANG, February 27 (Itar-Tass) - North Korean people and the army
may "launch a large-scale offensive to end the American occupation of
South Korea and the unpopular ruling system of the group of traitors in
Seoul in response to the American-South Korean exercises "Key Resolve" and
"Foal Eagle", "spearheaded against the DPRK".
This warning was made on Sunday by the military mission of the Korean
People's Army at the border point of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone.
Its statement, circulated by the KCNA news agency, stresses that "only
blockheads can hope for a collapse of the socialist system of the Korean
model, chosen by people themselves".
"If the aggressors decide to take provocative actions, the world will
witness an unprecedented retaliatory action by the army and people of the
DPRK," the statement runs. "Our country may use its forces of nuclear
containment and inflict a missile strike in response to attempts to
destroy its missile systems."
Seoul already announced earlier that large-scale annual exercises "Key
Reserve" and "Foal Eagle", involving up to 12,500 American servicemen and
200,000 South Korean men and officers, including reservists, will start
virtually simultaneously in the country late in February. "Foal Eagle" is
accompanied by practice firing and a dispatch of troops to proving
grounds. They will end on April 30.
Now, 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea.
-0-bur/gor