August 11, 2025 | 09:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Monday, August 11, North Korea strongly condemned plans for large-scale joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol warned that Pyongyang reserves the right to defend itself in the event of any provocation.
“We strongly denounce the US and the ROK (Republic of Korea) for their provocative moves of clearly showing the stand of military confrontation with the DPRK,” he said, as quoted by Anadolu, citing North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA.
The warning comes just a week ahead of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) drills, scheduled to take place from August 18 to 28. No described the exercises as a direct military provocation and a serious threat to North Korea’s national security.
Partial Postponement of Exercises
No Kwang-chol also accused the United States and South Korea of destabilizing the Korean Peninsula, warning that there would be consequences if tensions continued to rise.
Calling the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises “a direct military provocation” and “a serious threat” to North Korea, he stated that the DPRK’s armed forces would respond with “comprehensive and resolute countermeasures.” He emphasized that North Korea would firmly exercise its sovereign right to self-defense if provoked beyond acceptable limits.
Meanwhile, around 20 of the 40 scheduled training sessions have been postponed to next month, citing extreme heat, flood-related disruptions, and Seoul’s ongoing efforts to ease tensions with Pyongyang.
Signs of Thaw in Inter-Korean Relations
The United States currently maintains around 28,500 troops in South Korea and holds regular joint drills with Seoul, which both countries describe as defensive in nature. However, North Korea views them as preparation for an invasion, a fear rooted in its past, particularly the 1950 attack on South Korea that sparked the Korean War.
Inter-Korean relations had deteriorated under former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who adopted a hardline stance against Pyongyang. Since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June, Seoul has taken steps to ease tensions. These include requesting civil groups to halt the launch of propaganda leaflets into the North via balloons.
More recently, South Korea dismantled loudspeakers used for propaganda broadcasts along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
According to South Korean military sources, North Korea has also begun removing its own loudspeakers. Both sides had already suspended propaganda broadcasts in June, shortly after President Lee assumed office.
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