North Korea strongly protests against ROK-U.S. joint military exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield'
North Korea has strongly protested against the recent commencement of the 'Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)' joint military exercise by South Korea and the United States. This exercise is a defensive drill conducted regularly by both nations, taking into account the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea criticized the exercise, labeling it a war rehearsal aimed at them. Through a statement, the North Korean Foreign Ministry claimed that the exercise heightens tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threatened to exercise its 'legitimate right to self-defense' to protect its sovereignty.
South Korean military authorities explained that the purpose of this exercise is to strengthen the combined defense posture and inspect national emergency readiness. They also emphasized that they maintain a firm readiness posture to respond immediately to any provocation by North Korea.
As military tensions on the Korean Peninsula rise once again, neighboring countries are closely monitoring the situation. The government stated that it is keeping a close watch on North Korea's movements and will do its utmost to maintain peace and stability through close coordination between South Korea and the U.S.