North Korea denounces upcoming US-South Korea drills, vows stronger nuclear deterrence
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North Korea on Friday denounced the upcoming U.S.-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills as more provocative than last year's exercises, state media KCNA reported. Pyongyang said it would strengthen its nuclear deterrence and accused Washington of pursuing a strategy that lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons. South Korea said the August 17-27 drills will incorporate exercises to counter drones, GPS disruption and cyberattacks.
Key Facts
- North Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said U.S.-Japan-South Korea military cooperation is turning into a nuclear alliance, according to KCNA.
- Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills will run from August 17 to 27 and include exercises to counter drones, GPS disruption and cyberattacks.
- South Korea's Unification Ministry said Friday's statement was North Korea's first official response to the upcoming exercise.
- On Wednesday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off the Korean Peninsula's east coast from the Wonsan area, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
- KCNA commentary cited U.S. nuclear cooperation with South Korea and extended-deterrence commitments to Japan and called the Korean Peninsula a potential priority target of the alleged strategy.
Pyongyang's Denunciation
North Korea on Friday denounced the U.S.-South Korea military drills as more provocative than last year's exercises, state media KCNA reported. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said U.S.-Japan-South Korea military cooperation is turning into a nuclear alliance. The spokesperson said North Korea will respond to a new level of threat with a new level of deterrent. North Korea also said it would further strengthen its nuclear deterrence and accused the United States of pursuing a strategy that lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons. In a commentary, KCNA cited U.S. nuclear cooperation with South Korea and extended-deterrence commitments to Japan and called the Korean Peninsula a potential priority target of the alleged strategy.
Ulchi Freedom Shield Exercise
South Korea and the United States will conduct the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills from August 17 to 27. The drills will incorporate exercises to counter drones, GPS disruption and cyberattacks as they adapt to North Korea's evolving capabilities. South Korea's Unification Ministry said Friday's statement was North Korea's first official response on the upcoming exercise. Pyongyang routinely denounces the drills as a provocation that heightens tensions.
Missile Launch Wednesday
On Wednesday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off the Korean Peninsula's east coast. The missile was launched from the North's Wonsan area, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The launch came six days after North Korea fired another ballistic missile from the same area.
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North Korea denounces upcoming US-South Korea drills, vows stronger nuclear deterrence
