North Korea has fiercely condemned the large-scale U.S.–South Korea military exercise scheduled to begin on August 18th, branding it a “direct military provocation” amid tentative signs of easing tensions under South Korea’s new administration
North Korea’s Defense Minister No Kwang Chol asserted that North Korea’s armed forces have an “absolute mission” to safeguard national security.
“The armed forces of the DPRK will cope with the war drills of the U.S. and the (South) with thoroughgoing and resolute counteraction posture and strictly exercise the sovereign right,” said No.
The exercises are meant to test upgraded command control and troop mobilization, targeting heightened nuclear threats. However, due to weather concerns, key field components have been postponed until September—a concession interpreted as an effort to ease tensions by South Korea’s leader, Lee Jae Myung.
Despite rejecting offers for dialogue from both President Lee and Washington, Pyongyang has taken measured steps that hint at a willingness to dial down tensions.
In recent days, South Korea reported that the North had begun dismantling some of its border loudspeakers, mirroring similar actions by Seoul.
Officials in the South also noted a softer tone in the North’s criticism of the upcoming drills, with Pyongyang appearing more intent on articulating its stance than issuing direct military threats.