North Korea slams South’s ‘lunatic’ military display
North Korea angered by what it saw as provocative exercise
North Korea on Wednesday condemned South Korea’s “lunatic hostility” in staging a military parade that showcased a cruise missile capable of precision strikes against the leadership in Pyongyang.
Tuesday’s display of weaponry in Seoul was the largest for a decade, involving 11,000 troops, 120 aircraft, tanks, heavy artillery and a range of missiles.
Although North Korea regularly stages far larger military parades in Pyongyang, it took exception to what it saw as a provocative, confrontational exercise.
“The puppets staged an unprecedented display of lunatic hostility,” said the official ruling party mouthpiece, Rodong Sinmun.
The newspaper said the parade was aimed at strengthening “military collusion” with the United States and “spurring preparations to attack the North”.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel was the guest of honour at Tuesday’s event, which marked the 65th anniversary of the founding of the South Korean armed forces.