PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korea criticized the trilateral “Freedom Edge” military exercise involving South Korea, Japan, and the United States, likening it to an Asian version of NATO, according to state media.
The drills, which began recently, included navy destroyers, fighter jets, and the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, aimed at enhancing defence capabilities against missiles and other threats.
Pyongyang condemned what it perceives as the US-led military bloc and vowed a robust response to maintain regional peace. North Korea’s foreign ministry accused Washington of attempting to align South Korea and Japan with NATO, citing South Korea’s consideration of supplying arms to Ukraine as an example.
Tensions have escalated with accusations that North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, allegations denied by both countries. North Korea has historically viewed joint US-South Korea exercises as rehearsals for invasion, criticizing them as evidence of hostile intentions.
Previously, the three nations conducted joint naval exercises to bolster defences against North Korean provocations. The situation underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions on the Korean peninsula amidst efforts to manage North Korea’s weapons testing activities.
