North Korea warns of 'physical response' to US-South Korea war games; Clinton shrugs

But a draft of the ARF’s joint statement, seen by Yonhap, indicates Clinton’s speech may have had some effect. The forum is expected to express "deep concerns" over the deadly sinking of the Cheonan and support for a related UN statement – which fell short of blaming the North directly.

During Clinton’s visit to Seoul earlier this week, she and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates finalized the details of the joint drills in a “two-plus-two” meeting with South Korean foreign affairs and defense officials. The training will kick off on Sunday and focus on anti-submarine tactics, as well as on giving North Korea a show a force.

North Korea denies responsibility for the Cheonan’s sinking and denounced the exercises earlier this the week, reports The Christian Science Monitor. But today Pyongyang diplomat Ri Tong-il told reporters in Hanoi that there would be a “physical response to the threat imposed by the United States militarily,” according to Xinhua.

Clinton seemed to brush off the threats as hyperbole:

"It is distressing when North Korea continues its threats and causes so much anxiety among its neighbors and the larger region," she told reporters. "But we will demonstrate once again with our military exercises ... that the United States stands in firm support of the defense of South Korea and we will continue to do so."

Such threats are commonplace, the Wall Street Journal also notes, but they do indicate the level of tension in the region.

China has given no support to accusations that North Korea has also openly expressed opposition to the war games, but neither South Korea or the US have backed down.

An editorial in South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo warns that if China chooses to strengthen its alliance with Pyongyang as a reaction to the drills, the Korean Pensinsula “could once again become the scene of a Cold War.”

“Seoul and Washington must find a solution to that problem,” the paper says.

Related:

• North Korea sanctions announced by Clinton part of a diplomatic dance for South Korea
• USS George Washington, S. Korea military drills send mixed signals to North Korea
• All North Korea news

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