Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- The British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea and the British Association for the Study of Songun Policy issued a joint statement on Aug. 10 denouncing the U.S.-south Korea joint military exercises.

Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises to be staged by the U.S. and south Korea are apparently a grave provocation against the DPRK, the statement said, branding them as a foolish attempt to stifle the socialist system in the DPRK by force.

The exercises have nothing to do with "freedom" advertised by the U.S. but are aimed to expand its forces to the whole Korean Peninsula and, furthermore, secure hegemony over Asia-Pacific, it noted.

It supported the Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army for sending an open letter to the U.S. and the south Korean authorities demanding them stop the joint military exercises.

It went on:

If the U.S. is interested in peace on the Korean Peninsula, it should unconditionally stop the joint military exercises.

We strongly demand the immediate withdrawal of the U.S. forces from south Korea.

We will always stand by the Korean people, the statement said, appealing to all the Juche idea and Songun idea followers of the world to unite more closely around socialist Korea of Juche.