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North Korea suspends high level talks with South Korea over military drills with US North Korea suspends high level talks with South Korea over military drills with US
(35 minutes later)
North Korea has announced it is suspending scheduled talks with South Korea due to US-South Korean military drills, which it called a "provocation". North Korea has announced it is suspending scheduled talks with South Korea due to US-South Korean military drills, which it called a "provocation". 
North Korea's state-run Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the so-called 'Max Thunder' drills between the South Korean and US Air Force are simply a "rehearsal for [an] invasion of the North and a provocation amid warming inter-Korean ties," Yonhap News Agency reported. North Korea's state-run Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the so-called 'Max Thunder' drills between the South Korean and US Air Force are simply a "rehearsal for [an] invasion of the North and a provocation amid warming inter-Korean ties," Yonhap News Agency reported. 
The talks, scheduled for 16 May, were meant as a follow-up to the historic and opulent ceremony during which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity, and Unification of the Korean Peninsula during the Inter-Korean Summit on 27 April. The signing took place in the in the neutral territory between the two Koreas, the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), and officially ended the war that began when the north and south split in a battle over communism and democracy that began on 25 June 1950. "This exercise targeting us, which is being carried out across South Korea, is a flagrant challenge to the Panmunjom Declaration and an intentional military provocation running counter to the positive political development on the Korean Peninsula. The [US] will also have to undertake careful deliberations about the fate of the planned North Korea-US summit in light of this provocative military ruckus jointly conducted with the South Korean authorities," KCNA said. 
The talks, scheduled for 16 May, were meant as a follow-up to the historic and opulent ceremony during which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity, and Unification of the Korean Peninsula during the Inter-Korean Summit on 27 April. The signing took place in the in the neutral territory between the two Koreas, the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), and officially ended the war that began when the north and south split in a battle over communism and democracy that began on 25 June 1950.
Pictures of Mr Kim and Mr Moon holding hands and smiling made headlines as there appeared to be home for the South Korean's campaign promise of a "sunshine policy," or improved economic relations with the north. Pictures of Mr Kim and Mr Moon holding hands and smiling made headlines as there appeared to be home for the South Korean's campaign promise of a "sunshine policy," or improved economic relations with the north. 
The suspension comes just one month before the first scheduled meeting between Mr Kim and US President Donald Trump on 12 June in Singapore.  The suspension comes just one month before the first scheduled meeting between Mr Kim and US President Donald Trump on 12 June in Singapore to discuss North Korea halting development of its nuclear weapons programme. Pyongyang had previously threatened to strike US territory Guam, Hawaii, and even the west coast of the US with intercontinental ballistic missiles. 
"This exercise targeting us, which is being carried out across South Korea, is a flagrant challenge to the Panmunjom Declaration and an intentional military provocation running counter to the positive political development on the Korean Peninsula. The [US] will also have to undertake careful deliberations about the fate of the planned North Korea-U.S. summit in light of this provocative military ruckus jointly conducted with the South Korean authorities," KCNA said.  In 2017, the two-week Max Thunder drills involved approximately 1,000 US military personnel and 500 South Korean personnel to support the exercises of a variety of aircraft. These were scheduled to take place during the 2018 Winter Olympics, which took place in Pyeongchang, South Korea from 9 to 25 February. 
In 2017, the Max Thunder drills involved approximately 1000 US military personnel and 500 South Korean personnel to support the exercises of a variety of aircraft. These were scheduled to take place during the 2018 Winter Olympics, which took place in Pyeongchang, South Korea from 9 to 25 February. 
Both sides agreed to delay the drills in an effort to encourage North Korea's participation in the Games. Athletes from both Koreas marched together during the opening and closing ceremonies and Mr Kim sent his sister, Kim Yo Jong, as a representative to meet with Mr Moon for the first time. Both sides agreed to delay the drills in an effort to encourage North Korea's participation in the Games. Athletes from both Koreas marched together during the opening and closing ceremonies and Mr Kim sent his sister, Kim Yo Jong, as a representative to meet with Mr Moon for the first time. 
  Tensions between Mr Trump and Mr Kim had appeared to ease during the games as well. The US sent Vice President Mike Pence and White House advisor Ivanka Trump to South Korea as emissaries.
More follows… It was after the closing ceremony that a possible meeting between the leaders - who had for the previous year traded insults like "Rocket Man" and "dotard" - was announced. 
  US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said during a news conference that planning for Mr Trump's June meeting with Mr Kim will continue as planned despite the warning from Pyongyang. She also confirmed that North Korea had not said anything to the US about cancelling the Singapore summit as yet.