The United Nations Command has demanded North Korea withdraw its threat that it cannot ensure the safety of South Korean civilian airliners flying in and around North Korean airspace over the East Sea.

The demand was made in a general-level meeting with the North at the truce village of Panmunjeom Friday morning.

According to a military source, the South Korean government and the U.N. Command agreed that the North Korean threat does nothing to help ease currently heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

But the North rejected the demand, saying that military tension is escalating on the peninsula due to the joint South Korea-U.S. military drill “Key Resolve” set to start Monday.

Officials from the North called for a halt to the joint military exercise, which it perceives as “a preparation for invasion.”

The U.N. Command countered with an offer of measures to build mutual trust --- including a prior notice of drill schedules --- explaining that Key Resolve is nothing more than an annual defense drill.