He recalled there started on the day the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military drills involving 30 000 U.S. troops, 50 000 south Korean troops and 400 000 employees of at least 3 600 "government" institutions.

He termed the drills dangerous maneuvers escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula.

The military exercises should be called off immediately as they are a blatant challenge to the peace on the peninsula, he demanded.

He urged the "government" to bear in mind that now is the time to concentrate on the north-south cooperation and exchange.