North Korea said Monday that its relations with South Korea won’t improve unless the United States withdraws its troops from South Korea.
The demand was made one day after Pyongyang fired three short-range missiles into the sea off the country’s east coast in what could be the latest show of force against Seoul. It was the 19th time that North Korea has launched missiles or rockets this year, with the number of projectiles fired totaling 111, according to data of South Korea’s military.
North Korea’s official news agency (Korean Central News Agency) reported today that the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea released a statement in English saying that it will be impossible to improve bilateral relations with the South as long as US troops remain in South Korea.
The committee, which handles inter-Korean affairs, urged South Korea withdraw US forces from South Korea if Seoul wants to improve relations with Pyongyang.
About 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea to help deter possible military aggression by the North.