North Korea has criticised upcoming joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, describing them as more provocative than last year’s drills, according to state media.
Pyongyang accused Washington, Seoul and Tokyo of expanding their military cooperation into what it described as a nuclear alliance, warning that it would strengthen its deterrence capabilities in response to the perceived threat.
The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises are scheduled to take place from August 17 to 27. The drills will feature training aimed at countering drone operations, GPS interference and cyberattacks, reflecting concerns over North Korea’s advancing military capabilities.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said the statement marked Pyongyang’s first official reaction to this year’s exercises. North Korea has routinely condemned the drills, arguing that they contribute to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
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Pyongyang also pledged to reinforce its nuclear deterrent, accusing the United States of adopting a nuclear strategy that could lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.
North Korea warned that the alleged US strategy could push international security towards the risk of nuclear conflict. It also criticised US nuclear cooperation with South Korea and its extended-deterrence commitments to Japan.
The latest warning came after North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards waters off the Korean Peninsula’s eastern coast on Wednesday.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was fired from the Wonsan area, six days after another ballistic missile was launched from the same location.
