朝鮮對美韓聯合軍演的批評相對緩和

North Korea has responded with softer than usual language to an annual U.S.-South Korea war exercise that began this week.

The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drill that began Monday is regularly slammed by Pyongyang officials, who consider it a preparation for invasion.

The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea on Tuesday mentioned the exercise, but did not specifically criticize it.

The statement instead blasted South Korean President Park Geun-hye for saying last week Seoul should remain on guard and "not forget about war," despite a recent reduction in tensions.

Though it did not mention her by name, the statement said Ms. Park's comments "chill the atmosphere for dialogue." It warned of "uncontrollably catastrophic consequences" if the South continues to "pursue confrontation."朝鮮用比以往和緩的措辭對美韓兩國這個星期開始的聯合軍演做出迴應。

美韓“乙支自由衛士”演習在星期一開始。這一年度聯合軍演通常會受到平壤官員的抨擊，朝鮮把它看作是準備入侵。

平壤的朝鮮和平統一委員會星期二提到了這次演習，但是沒有對此作出特別的批評。

該機構的聲明抨擊了韓國總統朴槿惠上星期的言論。她說，儘管最近緊張局勢有所緩和，但首爾仍需要保持警覺，“勿忘戰爭”。

聲明沒有直接點朴槿惠的名字，但是表示這種言論不利於“對話的氣氛”。聲明警告說，如果韓國繼續“尋求對抗”，將會產生“不可控制的災難性後果”。