North Korea Calls US, South Korea and Japan Naval Drills a ‘Threat’

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — North Korea on Monday condemned planned joint maritime exercises by the United States, South Korea and Japan as a “threat” to Pyongyang and the wider region, accusing Washington of continuing its “hostile policy” despite US President Donald Trump’s efforts to revive dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The three countries are scheduled to hold the Freedom Edge multinational military exercise from September 7 to 11 in international waters east and south of South Korea’s Jeju Island.

Seoul has described the drills as defensive in nature and focused on strengthening the allies’ ability to respond to security threats posed by North Korea.

The exercise was first conducted in June 2024 following an agreement reached by the leaders of the United States, South Korea and Japan at their Camp David summit in 2023.

“The US military announced its plan to stage the US-Japan-ROK multi-domain joint military exercises Freedom Edge, which constitute a threat to the DPRK and regional countries,” North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), using the acronym for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson also accused Washington of conducting “air espionage” and other military activities against Pyongyang.

“The Trump administration has thus fully reconfirmed its invariable hostile policy to wantonly violate the sovereignty, political system and security interests of the DPRK,” the spokesperson said.

Pyongyang further defended its nuclear weapons program, describing the country’s nuclear arsenal as “the most responsible and correct option” for maintaining peace and security in the region.

The spokesperson called North Korea’s nuclear weapons an “absolute guarantee” for defending the country’s sovereignty, reinforcing Pyongyang’s longstanding position that its nuclear capabilities are essential to deterring what it regards as threats from the United States and its allies.

The latest statement comes shortly after South Korea and the United States concluded Ulchi Freedom Shield, one of their major annual joint military exercises.

The 2026 drills were scaled back at Trump’s direction from 11 days to five. Trump has cited the high cost of military exercises and his relationship with Kim as reasons for reducing the scale of the drills.

Trump has repeatedly expressed an interest in meeting Kim again and has sought to reopen diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang. The two leaders previously held three summits between 2018 and 2019, but negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program ultimately stalled.

Despite Trump’s renewed overtures, however, Pyongyang has shown little indication that it is prepared to resume negotiations on Washington’s terms.

North Korea has continued to conduct missile launches and has condemned even the scaled-down US-South Korean military exercises.

Pyongyang has also criticized Washington’s approval of arms sales to South Korea and US-backed programs aimed at documenting human rights abuses in North Korea.

The dispute highlights the difficult security environment surrounding the Korean Peninsula, where efforts to reopen diplomatic channels are unfolding alongside continued military preparations and North Korea’s determination to maintain and expand its nuclear capabilities.