North Korea blasts U.S.-South Korea military exercise Foal Eagle

SEOUL, April 24 (UPI) -- North Korea's state-controlled media outlet said Friday that unless South Korea provides the right kind of atmosphere for bilateral dialogue, Seoul should not "even dream about talks."

South Korean television network KBS reported that North Korea blasted Seoul's belligerence and war-mongering stance, referring to the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise Foal Eagle, which officially concluded Friday.

Pyongyang's state-controlled media outlet Uriminzokkiri accused South Korea unification minister Hong Yong-pyo of secretly harboring hostile intentions toward the North because Hong is pursuing unification by absorption.

North Korea's statement was filled with vitriolic condemnations of the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.

"[Is South Korea] even worthy enough to bring up talks, when it is running about madly in its war exercises," one statement read, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Foal Eagle is to be followed by additional joint exercises, including the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian and the Hwarang Exercises.

"With shells and bullets flying, how can we have talks," North Korea media stated.

On Friday, at a meeting ahead of the 83rd anniversary of North Korea's Korean People's Army, Chief of General Staff Ri Yong Gil said the military exercises were exacerbating tensions on the Korean peninsula.

He also said, "If the enemies send even an ember of discord to North Korea, we will strike and destroy them at the source."

Ri said Pyongyang has been making progress in counterattack naval training, and that a test launch of a rocket was successfully completed from a new naval vessel.

Top party, military and government officials attended the meeting, held in North Korea's Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, reported Yonhap, including Choe Ryong Hae, Kim Yang Gon and Ri Yong Mu.