N Korea threatens to cancel reunions

SEOUL, South Korea (AP):

North Korea threatened yesterday to cancel reunions of Korean War-divided families because of upcoming United States (US)-South Korean military drills and accused the US of raising tensions by flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers near the Korean Peninsula.

The apparent about-face a day after the rival Koreas agreed on dates for the emotional meetings fits a pattern analysts describe of North Korea agreeing to things South Korea covets and then pulling back until it gets what it wants - in this case a ratcheting down of massive military drills by Seoul and Washington that are seen as a huge drain on the impoverished North's military.

annual military drills

The rival Koreas decided Wednesday to resume the family reunions, which haven't been held since 2010, on February 20-25. Before the agreement, many in Seoul were sceptical that North Korea would allow the reunions anytime soon because of its anger over the annual military drills scheduled later this month. North Korea calls the drills preparation for war and is extremely sensitive about any nuclear-capable US craft in the region, while South Korea and the US say the exercises are purely defensive.

Yesterday, the North's powerful National Defence Comm-ission warned that the reunions may not happen if South Korea goes ahead with the drills and continues slandering leader Kim Jong Un.