The United States and South Korea have launched extensive war games as part of their Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills, deemed by the DPRK as simulating "acts of aggression."

The drills were described as “provocative war drills for aggression," in a statement issued by the DPRK Foreign Ministry earlier on Monday, stressing the importance of “constantly maintain the balance of power for preventing a war by stockpiling the greatest deterrence.” 

The ministry added that Pyongyang's nuclear weapon program was justified in this context amid tensions along the Korean Peninsula, further rising due to Seoul's military collaboration with the US.

South Korean citizens have also condemned the joint military exercises, with anti-war activists gathering at the presidential office on Monday to denounce the drills.

Campaigners from the Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea coalition said these military practices would only further contribute to the rising tensions on the Peninsula, potentially expanding in Northeast Asia.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills

The joint military exercises kicked off on Monday and will continue until August 29, featuring over 40 field exercises alongside computer-simulated warfare.

Approximately 19,000 DPRK forces have participated in these operations, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The US has withheld information concerning its military's participation in the drills and whether Washington would deploy its tactical assets during the drills. 

However, in the months preceding the war games, the US increased its supply of long-range bombers, submarines, and aircraft carrier strike groups to the region to conduct training exercises with its South Korean and Japanese allies.

The three nations have claimed that their military collaboration is intended to enhance their preparedness against potential threats posed against them by the DPRK, adding that Pyongyang could target them through missile strikes, cyberattacks, and GPS jamming operations.  

US, Japan, South Korea launch 'Freedom Edge' military drills

In August 2023, the leaders of the three nations attended the Camp David summit, where they agreed on a multi-year framework including annual, named, multidomain joint military exercises which, according to the White House, "will constitute an unprecedented level of trilateral defense cooperation."

Therefore, joint military exercises are conducted multiple times throughout the year between the three allies including the three-day military training, codenamed Freedom Edge, that took place at the end of June.

The exercises "will focus on ballistic missile defense, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, maritime interdiction, and defensive cyber training," said the JCS. 

The US Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Japan's guided-missile destroyer, JS Atago, and South Korea's KF-16 fighter jet are a few of the assets that will take part in the drills.

The South Korean Navy released a statement on June 22, following the arrival of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, saying it "demonstrates the strong combined defense posture of the South Korea-US alliance and their firm resolve to respond to the escalating threats from North Korea."