After North Korea and the United States traded bellicose threats of nuclear conflagration, all eyes will be on an annual war game in the South next week that could send tensions spiralling back upwards, analysts say. The North’s reaction to the “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” (UFG) joint military exercise that starts Monday will be key to determining what happens next. ‘Drive a wedge’North Korea has repeatedly called for an end to large-scale joint military exercises between the allies in exchange for a freeze on its nuclear and missile programmes. “Cancelling it would cede into the huge North Korean aim to decouple the allies and drive a wedge between South Korea and the United States,” Narang said. Pushing through with the drills is essential for South Korean President Moon Jae-In’s promise to “prevent war at all cost”, said Choi Kang of the Asan Institute of Policy Studies.

Source: Dhaka Tribune August 18, 2017 14:03 UTC