By Kim Bo-eun
North Korea has sent a letter to the United Nations, urging for efforts to be made to halt what it referred to as the U.S.'s nuclear war provocation scheme, its state media reported Thursday.
The letter comes amid speculation that the Donald Trump administration is serious about using a limited, preventive strike against the Kim Jong-un regime, the so-called "bloody nose" strategy.
"Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho sent a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, regarding military movements which counter positive changes making way toward improved North-South relations and the easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The North Korean media reported the letter stated "(The U.S.) is escalating tension by bringing in its strategic assets around the Korean Peninsula, including a nuclear aircraft carrier strike group, at a time North and South Koreas are opening a chapter of peace."
It also said, "The U.S. has vowed to push forward with a large -scale joint military exercises against our republic, after the Winter Olympics."
Pyongyang was referring to statements by the U.S. Joint Chiefs that it would continue military exercises immediately after the Olympics.
South Korea and the U.S. earlier agreed to push back their military drills until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics are over. The Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 9 through 25 and the Paralympics from March 9 to 18.
"We will make efforts to improve North-South Korea relations, but we will not stand and watch measures that throw a wet blanket on such efforts," the KCNA quoted the letter as stating.
"The U.N. should not keep silent about the U.S. escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and taking measures to place the entire international community in a disaster of a nuclear war," it also cited.
The letter requested that the matter be brought forward to the U.N. Security Council.
However, ironically, Pyongyang itself is set to hold a massive military parade a day before the Games kick off, to honor the foundation of its armed forces.
The event is seen as a means for North Korea to show off its military prowess.
The parade has been criticized for undermining the peace progress the Koreas have made in easing tensions, with Pyongyang taking part in the Olympics.
According to a report by U.S. broadcaster Voice of America, North Korea is preparing a formation of the name of its leader Kim Jong-un at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, with a week remaining until the parade.
Citing satellite images from Planet, the broadcaster reported more than 100,000 people are expected to take part in the rally, which is similar to the scale of previous events.
Earlier, CNN reported Pyongyang will parade dozens of long-range missiles at the rally, including the intercontinental ballistic Hwasong-15 missile, which the regime tested in November last year.
