U.S., South Korea begin joint drills, NK threatens
The United States and South Korea start annual military exercises. the Ulichi Freedom Guardian Exercise will run to September 2, and involve about 75,000 troops, including 25,000 from the U.S. side. As the countries opened the command and control exercise earlier in the day, they told North Korea of the drill’s schedule and its non-offensive nature through a communication channel in the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom.
Training exercises like UFG are carried out in the spirit of the Oct. 1, 1953, ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty and in accordance with the Armistice,” the CFC said in a statement. “These exercises also highlight the longstanding military partnership, commitment and enduring friendship between the two nations, help to ensure peace and security on the peninsula, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to the Alliance.
As the exercise begins, North Korea threatens a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the allies.
[South Korea and the U.S.] should bear in mind that if they show the slightest sign of aggression on (DPRK’s) inviolable land, seas and air …, it would turn the stronghold of provocation into a heap of ashes through Korean-style preemptive nuclear strike.
Fires warning shots at NK drone
South Korea fires warning shots at a North Korean drone that flew several hundred yards south of the border between the two countries. The drone turned back into North Korea and was not hit by the warning shots.
B-52 flyover
US forces fly a B-52 bomber over South Korea in response to North Korea’s alleged detonation of a nuclear bomb. The bomber flies low over an airbase close to the border between North and South Korea, escorted by fighter jets from both the U. S. and South Korea.
Border artillery exchange
North and South Korea exchange artillery fire across their mutual border. After North Korean soldiers fire several shots at a military loudspeaker that speaks in high voice against Pyongyang, South Korean troops return ‘dozens of shells” to the suspected source. No casualties are reported. North Korea later warns Seoul in a letter that it will take military action if the South did not stop the loudspeaker broadcasts within 48 hours. In a separate letter, Pyongyang says it is willing to offer an opening to resolve the conflict even though it considers the broadcasts a declaration of war.