They declared that the joint military exercises now under way under the pretext of "comprehensively coping with the contingency" are obviously not defensive ones but offensive ones for invading the north.

Recalling that the military clashes took place in the West Sea of Korea last year due to the provocations of the war-like military forces, they demanded the authorities stop the actions escalating the military tension and conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

They urged the authorities to halt at once the above-said military exercises launched in collusion with foreign forces and come out for dialogue with the north.

At least 60 civic and social bodies including the People for Achieving Peace and Reunification and the Solidarity for Progress on the same day held a joint rally before a command post of the "Command of the south Korea-U.S. Combined Forces" in Kyonggi Province to denounce the ongoing military maneuvers.