Pyongyang warns of 'new level of deterrence' ahead of US-South Korean military exercises

North Korea condemned the upcoming joint military exercises between the US and South Korean militaries, warning that it may respond with stronger deterrence measures, according to a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry on Friday.

The exercises, scheduled to begin on Monday and last for 11 days, are held annually every summer and aim to prepare the United States and South Korea for defense against the nuclear-armed North.

However, Pyongyang views them as rehearsals for invasion. Earlier this week, it launched a ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan, signaling its opposition.

A spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, “Our firm principle for ensuring security is to respond to any new level of threat with a new level of deterrence.”

According to the statement published by the Korean Central News Agency on Friday, the spokesperson affirmed that Pyongyang “will not tolerate the serious confrontational situation created by hostile states, but will more clearly express its stance toward enemies to confront any threats and challenges.”

He added, “This serves as an acknowledgment that the exercises, which the United States and the Republic of Korea describe as ‘annual’ and ‘defensive,’ are in fact training for aggressive war.”

The “Ulchi Freedom Shield” exercises will involve 18,000 South Korean soldiers alongside their counterparts from the US forces stationed in the country, which number 28,500.

The spokesperson said the exercises would prepare troops for the possibility of fighting North Korean forces that have gained combat experience through their deployment alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.