South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday that the DPRK renewed its pledge to boost its nuclear arsenal in a bid to restore regional security after several months of provocations initiated by the US and South Korea's side. 

The DPRK's foreign ministry said in a statement that the US was responsible for spearheading the collapse of international arms control systems.

"Nuclear deterrence ensures a balance of power in the region and a strong physical security to prevent the outbreak of a new war," as per the statement issued by the DPRK.

The statement added that the buildup of unilateral arms between the US and its allies has worsened the risk of a potential escalation in the Korean Peninsula.

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This comes in light of a recent announcement issued by the US and South Korea that the two are planning to carry out joint military drills, dubbed the 'Freedom Shield' exercises, this month in order to strengthen allies' "defense" capabilities. 

The drills are scheduled to take place annually from March 13 to March 23. No breaks are scheduled to be held in between. 

This will also mark the longest-ever version of a joint computer simulation command post-exercise.

The drills will proceed the 'Warrior Shield' drills which are intended to reinforce training programs and enhance their "realism."

On February 2023, former US president Donald J Trump said the US was antagonizing the DPRK leader through the joint military exercises the US is conducting with South Korea. 

"Kim Jung Un of North Korea, who I got to know and got along with very well during my years as president, is not happy with the US and South Korea doing big training and air exercises together. He feels threatened," Trump said via the social media platform Truth Social.

Trump described the exercises as "ridiculous" and "extremely expensive" saying that they jeopardize the lives of the 35,000 American troops in South Korea by provoking the DPRK. 

Trump slammed the exercises with South Korea saying that they're too costly with the latter party only paying a small portion of the costs. He then lamented Biden's decision to annul the cost-sharing agreement Trump had made with South Korea.  

South Korea and the US will go ahead with the ‘Freedom Shield’ and ‘Warrior Shield’ joint exercises from March 13 to 23 despite #NorthKorea warning pic.twitter.com/AACyYi9YLO

— Rahul Upadhyay (@rahulrajnews) March 3, 2023

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