N. Korea lashes at US over border exercise

January 23, 1980

North Korea has branded an American military exercise near Panmunjom, on the border with South Korea, as a preparation for war against the North and accused the United States of hampering unification talks between the two Koreas. The American-led United Nations Command said the exercises did not violate the 1953 Korean armistice and accused the North of trying to drive a wedge between the Americans and South Koreans.

The charges were exchanged at the 398th military armistice meeting at this truce village, in the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas.