North Korea condemned joint military exercises conducted by the South Korea-U.S. and U.S.-Japan alliances on August 2, demanding a halt to these military activities.
The ruling party’s newspaper Rodong Sinmun emphasized in an article titled, Reckless Military Frenzy Escalates Confrontation Crisis, that peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region can only be ensured if the U.S., Japan, and South Korea cease their indiscriminate military actions.
The newspaper criticized recent military drills, including the Resolute Force Pacific joint exercise carried out by the U.S. Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force around the Japanese archipelago, as well as the joint aerial refueling training between U.S. and South Korean Marines. It claimed that the Resolute Force Pacific exercise involved approximately 11,000 U.S. troops, over 400 aircraft, and around 50 Japanese fighter jets, including F-35s and F-2s, along with more than 3,000 personnel.
The publication assessed the current situation, stating that the U.S.’s reckless military actions, and its mobilization of allied forces, have created a volatile environment on the Korean Peninsula and in surrounding areas, where unpredictable armed conflicts could erupt at any moment. Further adding that the increasingly threatening nature of periodic joint military operations and provocations by the U.S., Japan, and South Korea has significantly escalated military tensions in the region.
The article warned that if this situation persists, even minor incidents could rapidly escalate into a full-scale conflict. It claimed that the U.S. frequently involves Japan and South Korea in exercises targeting North Korea with the ultimate goal of militarily suppressing North Korea and expanding its influence across the continent.
The piece concluded by asserting that North Korea’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities are entirely justified in response to what it described as the reckless behavior of the U.S. and its allies, who are attempting to undermine North Korean sovereignty and its right to exist. The article defended North Korea’s stance on bolstering its national defense as a necessary measure.