Pyongyang: North Korea issued a stern condemnation on Saturday against the recent joint military exercises conducted by the United States, South Korea, and Japan, warning of potential immediate actions to safeguard its sovereignty.
The drills, known as “Freedom Edge”, spanned three days and featured advanced military capabilities, including fighter jets, marine patrol aircraft, and the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George Washington. The exercises underscored the strengthening alliance among the three nations in response to perceived regional threats.
In a statement released by the North Korean defense ministry and carried by state media outlet KCNA, Pyongyang warned against continued provocations. “We strongly warn the U.S. and its followers hostile towards the DPRK to immediately stop the hostile acts of further causing provocation and instability that can drive the military confrontation in the Korean peninsula and its vicinity into a real armed conflict,” the ministry declared, using the official name for North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
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The statement emphasized that North Korea’s military remains vigilant and prepared to respond decisively. “The military would keep all options available and take immediate actions if needed to preemptively control risk, while closely watching military activity by the U.S. and its allies,” the ministry stated.
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The exercises come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with Pyongyang consistently opposing what it perceives as hostile maneuvers by the U.S. and its allies.
