North Korea on Tuesday condemned the U.S.-led RIMPAC naval exercise as a "war rehearsal." In this July 26 photo, the USS Theodore Roosevelt pulls alongside the USNS Washington Chambers for a replenishment at sea during RIMPAC. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary Buckles/U.S. Navy
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- North Korea on Tuesday condemned a recently concluded U.S.-led multinational naval exercise as a "war rehearsal" and warned it would respond with a new level of deterrence.
The remarks, attributed to an unnamed military commentator and carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, responded to the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, or RIMPAC, held in Hawaii.
RIMPAC ran from June 24 through July 31 and brought together more than 30,000 personnel from 30 countries, including South Korea and Japan. More than 30 surface ships, five submarines and about 200 aircraft took part in the 30th edition of the world's largest international maritime exercise.
The KCNA commentary highlighted the expanded command roles played by South Korea and Japan during this year's RIMPAC, claiming Washington was seeking to "establish an absolute military hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region."
