DPRK Defense Chief condemns upcoming US-South Korea military drill
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The DPRK Defense Minister condemned the upcoming US-South Korea military drill, calling it a grave threat to security on the Korean Peninsula.
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The DPRK's Defense Minister No Kwang-chol tours an exhibition of weapons, military equipment, and vehicles captured by the Russian Armed Forces from Syrian rebels while visiting the military Patriot Park outside Moscow on April 23, 2019. (AFP)
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has strongly denounced an upcoming large-scale joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea, warning that the move will sharply escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
DPRK Defense Minister No Kwang-chol condemned the Ulji Freedom Shield drill, scheduled to begin on the 18th of this month, as a simulated nuclear war and a direct provocation against the DPRK.
"The Ulji Freedom Shield to be staged under the simulated conditions of a real nuclear war is not only a direct military provocation against the DPRK, but also a real threat to amplify the unpredictability of the situation on the Korean Peninsula," No said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The defense chief stressed that DPRK armed forces would respond to any military provocation "beyond the boundary line" with a thorough and resolute counteraction posture, exercising its sovereign right to self-defense.
He asserted that the unilateral military actions by the US and South Korea were the main reason for the worsening situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the surrounding region, warning that, "The military demonstration against the DPRK will certainly have a boomerang effect of plunging the security of the US and the ROK into a less safe situation."
The DPRK statement emphasized that its armed forces see it as their absolute mission to counter offensive moves by enemy states, prevent military provocations, and defend both national security and regional peace.
It accused the US and South Korea of openly displaying their stance of military confrontation with the DPRK, calling the planned drill a serious challenge to the security environment on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK also warned that such actions would have “negative consequences” for both Washington and Seoul.
US-South Korea drills set for mid-August
It is worth mentioning that the Republic of Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on August 7 that South Korea and the United States will conduct their annual joint military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield 25 (UFS25), from August 18 to 28.
According to the announcement, the US-South Korea drills are designed to bolster the alliance’s combined defense readiness in light of evolving security threats.
According to the JCS, the exercise scenario has been developed based on a detailed analysis of recent global conflicts to ensure realistic training, and the drills will cover all domains of combined and joint operations, simulating near-real combat conditions.
The JCS emphasized that UFS25 remains a defensive military exercise intended to enhance preparedness, not provoke conflict. It will involve both military and civilian components, including participation from key South Korean ministries and agencies. The interagency training component aims to improve crisis response coordination, civilian protection, and defense against cyber threats.
"UFS25 is an annual defensive exercise. The scenario includes realistic threats identified through the analysis of recent conflicts," the JCS stated.
