The DPRK was entirely just when it took a measure for self-defense to cope with the evermore undisguised racket of the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet authorities for sanctions against the DPRK to stifle its socialist system and the frantic provocations, the statement noted, and went on:

The U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet forces are mulling staging all sorts of madcap war maneuvers for invading the DPRK including the joint naval exercises, the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint drills and the joint anti-submarine drills.

These war maneuvers are a wanton challenge to the peace, a grave infringement upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and despicable moves to suffocate the Korean-style socialism which has provided the Korean people with an independent and creative life.

We fully support the statement issued by a spokesman for the DPRK National Defence Commission, clarifying that the army and people of the DPRK will start a sacred retaliatory war to protect the nation's interests.