Pyongyang: North Korea on Wednesday criticized the ongoing joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States, labeling Seoul's effort to delay half of its field drills to the following month as "deceptive." The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which began on Monday, is scheduled to continue for 11 days.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has expressed its disapproval following the initiation of the large-scale joint summertime exercise by Seoul and Washington. The KCNA pointed out that about 40 field drills had been planned for this year, with half postponed to the next month in what appears to be an attempt by Seoul to improve its strained relations with Pyongyang.
The KCNA criticized the postponement, stating that while some drills were delayed, the fundamental exercises outlined in the U.S.-Republic of Korea exercise plan are still proceeding, with only certain drills of the South Korean military being postponed. The agency described this move by Seoul and the U.S. as a "deceptive tactic."
Despite these adjustments, the KCNA stated that the core nature of the joint exercise, noted as the world's longest-running and largest-scale drills in the Asia-Pacific, remains unchanged. Furthermore, it warned of North Korea's readiness and capability to protect its sovereignty and security, promising that its response would be "active and overwhelming."