North Korea on Wednesday warned the US and South Korea of a possible security crisis over their joint military drills.

In a statement, Kim Yo Jong, vice-department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, said Washington and Seoul are holding the joint military exercises despite their repeated warnings which will surely make them face a more serious security threat.

“They are the most vivid expression of the US hostile policy towards the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea], designed to stifle our state by force, and an unwelcoming act of self-destruction for which a dear price should be paid as they threaten the safety of our people and further imperil the situation on the Korean peninsula,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement published by state-run Korean Central News Agency.

“The dangerous war exercises pushed ahead by the US and the South Korean side disregardful of our repeated warnings will surely make them face more serious security threat,” he warned.

His statement came just a day after the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticized Seoul and Washington as they kicked off a preliminary training Tuesday ahead of next week’s main exercise from Aug. 16 to 26.

The North Korean official warned that Pyongyang could move to bolster its nuclear and conventional weapons program to contain an external threat to their country.

“The reality proves that only substantial deterrent, not words, can ensure the peace and security of the Korean peninsula, and that it is a vital requirement for us to build up the force powerful enough to fully contain the external threats to us,” the official said.

On Monday, South Korea said its joint military exercises with the US are “purely defensive.”

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said: “We believe that most of the international community fully understands that the South Korea-US combined exercises are an annually-held and defensive exercise and therefore, it does not pose a threat to any particular country, including North Korea.”

Earlier on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said that the upcoming military exercise between South Korea and the US is not “constructive” and called on Washington to avoid any action that would cause tension with the North.

Last month, the two countries restored cross-border communication lines that were cut off by Pyongyang last June.

North Korea severed communication with South Korea and also blew up an inter-Korean liaison office along the border in June 2020.

ISLAMABAD, AUG 11 /DNA/ – On the direction of the Capital Development Authority administration, the Enforcement Department on Wednesday with the help of the district administration and Islamabad police conducted illegal encroachments in different areas of Islamabad and  Anti-construction operations were carried out at various places in which illegal buildings, houses and other illegal structures were demolished.

According to the details, the operations were launched from IJP Road area of ​​Islamabad in which heavy machinery was used to demolish the walls of an illegal car parking on the green belt connected to Mandi turn and illegal parking of vehicles. The land was rendered useless by digging deep pits and hand over the land to the Environment Department of CDA so that tree planting could be started on the vacated land.

In addition, 35 illegal houses along the rain drain behind CTTI College opposite IJP Road were demolished with the help of heavy machinery, so as not to create any untoward situation in view of the flood situation in the recent monsoon rains citizens Don’t face any unpleasant event

In addition, four illegally established cattle pens near a traffic sign on IJP Road in the same area of ​​Islamabad were demolished and the land handed over to the Environment Department so that trees could be planted there as well.

Later, an illegal guard room, a drop-down barrier outside a residential house in Sector F-6/3, Street number 11, Islamabad was also demolished and the seized goods by the CDA and deposited in the store.

In addition, two illegal ordinary hotel constructed in Sector G-9 and Sector G-10 of Islamabad were also demolished.

It should be noted that for the last several months, the CDA in the Federal Capital has been engaged in continuous operations against illegal encroachments and constructions, which have resulted in the relinquishment of billions of rupees of government land.

Islamabad, Aug. 11: /DNA/ – COMSTECH organized coordination meeting with R&D institutions affiliated with Ministry of Science and Technology at COMSTECH Secretariat on Wednesday.

Secretary for Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Akhtar Nazir, chaired the meeting. He assured full support of the Ministry to the R&D institutions. Dr. Akhtar said, we need to develop a clear vision for all R&D and S&T organizations, review it and assess its feasibility and then go for capacity building and competitive growth initiatives. He suggested that we need to review and update statutes and rules of our organizations which need to align with the current needs. He appreciated the organization of the meeting and termed it a very useful initiative. Dr. Akhtar said, we believe that there is not superman or super organization, we need to build teams, and encourage teamwork to advance. He proposed to institutions the mechanism of collaboration between S&T and regulatory organizations including regular meetings.

Coordinator General, COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said the objective of this meeting is to find ways to make COMSTECH a strongest organization in Pakistan, which is the only organization of OIC hosted by Pakistan. He said we have to find ways that how can COMSTECH play role for establishing linkages and joint collaborative projects among Pakistani R&D institutions and the institutions of OIC system and member states. Dr. Choudhary suggested that the COMSTECH strength needs to be utilized for promotion of Pakistan’s science diplomacy initiative as well as achieve competitive growth of S&T institutions of Pakistan.

Capacity building of R&D institutions, fostering collaboration, and developing international linkages of R&D institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Science & Technology. Identification of relevant partner institutions in the OIC region for R&D collaboration and capacity building initiatives and discussion on COMSTECH technology portal along with preparation of a brief roadmap and implementation strategy for review and approval of the Federal Minister for Science & Technology, were the thrust areas of the discussions.

Heads of 14 top R&D organizations and universities of Pakistan participated in the meeting and shared their views, suggestions and insights.