Seoul: North Korea on Monday denounced the latest annual joint military drills by South Korea and the United States, warning it will continue to strengthen its striking power to overwhelm any threats from its enemies. The disarmament and peace institute at North Korea's foreign ministry issued the condemnation after Seoul and Washington wrapped up their 11-day annual Freedom Shield exercise Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea labeled the exercise a "planned and provocative nuclear war rehearsal," claiming that the aggressive and offensive nature of this year's drills was the highest in history. The statement, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), emphasized the necessity of having a formidable attack power to prevent war and counter threats from aggressors.
The North reiterated its commitment to "consistently renew and strengthen its responses in all areas to overwhelm any military act by its enemies." Historically, North Korea has criticized the joint drills by South Korea and the U.S. as preparation for invasion, using them as justification for its own military actions. The allies, however, assert that their exercises are purely defensive.
During the recent joint drills, North Korea issued multiple statements condemning them as a "dangerous provocative act" and launched several ballistic missiles, believed to be short-range. Notably, North Korea refrained from major provocations, such as launching long-range ballistic missiles, during this year's exercise.