The United States on Wednesday dismissed North Korea's latest charge that U.S.-South Korean military exercises were preparations for war, and Washington again accused Pyongyang of increasing regional tensions. North Korea's foreign ministry described the annual military exercises as “nuclear war exercises designed to mount a pre-emptive attack,” and pledged to take “every necessary measure to protect itself.” State Department spokesman Robert Wood flatly rejected the charges. “They're baseless. They're nonsense, frankly,” he told reporters. “These exercises, which take place … annually, are not a threat to the North.” North Korea's “bellicose rhetoric is not helpful, it can only increase tensions in the region,” Wood said, reiterating comments department officials have said each day this week. “We want to see the North comply with its international obligations with regard to the six-party framework” on its nuclear disarmament. The negotiations between the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan, and Russia have stalled over a dispute with Pyongyang over how to verify its disarmament. Wood said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton likely would discuss the six-country talks and other North Korean issues during her meeting in Washington on Wednesday with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
