North Korea condemned the joint Freedom Guardian Exercise that the US and South Korea will conduct in the region, warning that it could turn the tension between the two sides into a real war with a single accidental shot. The statement emphasized that measures against the threats from the US will be increased, stating, “Our responsible efforts to develop nuclear weapons to ensure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region will be doubled.”

North Korea reacted strongly to the joint Freedom Guardian Exercise announced by the US and South Korea today.

In a written statement from the North Korean Foreign Ministry, it was condemned that the US and South Korea insist on conducting large-scale joint military exercises despite Pyongyang’s warnings, stating, “These war exercises traditionally staged by the US and South Korea are based on persistent and unchanging invasion ambitions attempting to bring about the collapse of our regime.”

The statement claimed that the Freedom Guardian Exercise also increased the risk of conflict, warning, “This is a dangerous and provocative act that could turn the tension between the two sides into a real war with a single accidental shot.” Referring to the political and military tensions between the US and North Korea, it was stated that the situation has reached boiling point due to crazy war games aimed at our country and has become increasingly dangerous. The statement highlighted that the US and South Korea expanded the scope of this year’s Freedom Guardian Exercise, aiming to create an unmanageable situation in the Korean Peninsula and the region by continuously conducting large-scale war exercises, forming a vicious cycle of tension.

“THEY WILL FACE A MORE SERIOUS SECURITY THREAT” The statement argued that the actions of the US increased the legitimate security concerns of the regional countries, stating, “The fact that the bilateral and multilateral exercises led by the US resemble a real war proves the legitimacy of our policy to deter nuclear war threats from enemies.”

Reminding that North Korea will continue its strategic deterrence activities in response to the show of military force by the US, the statement warned that as long as the US pursues its hostile policy against North Korea, it will face an even more serious security threat.

Emphasizing that measures against the US threats towards North Korea will be increased, the statement concluded, “Our responsible efforts to develop nuclear weapons to ensure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region will be doubled.” The exercise is starting today. The US military had announced that the joint Freedom Guardian Exercise with South Korea will be conducted between March 10-21, 2025, aiming to strengthen the military intervention capabilities of the Washington-Seoul alliance. North Korea has previously stated that the exercise increases regional tension.