The North Korean Ministry of Defense strongly reacted to the Freedom Shield Exercise carried out by the US and South Korea in the region. The Ministry stated that if control over the US and South Korea is deemed necessary, all options including the use of the most destructive and lethal weapons will be evaluated by our military.

North Korea expressed sharp criticism of the 11-day joint Freedom Shield Exercise conducted by the US and South Korea.

In a statement from the North Korean Ministry of Defense, it was reminded that within the exercise, training was conducted for “destroying secret underground tunnel networks” and “eliminating the enemy’s nuclear weapons.”

“A DRILL AIMED AT INVADING NORTH KOREA”

The statement declared, “This situation proves that joint military exercises claimed to be defensive by the US and South Korea are nothing but a rehearsal for a full-scale invasion of North Korea.”

The statement highlighted the past joint exercises conducted by the US and South Korea and used the phrase, “The military provocations of enemy countries have reached a dangerous level that can never be ignored.” It was warned that it could lead to “the most serious consequences.”

The statement emphasized that North Korean laws clearly determine the means and methods to be used against the enemy in necessary situations and warned, “If controlling the US and South Korea is deemed necessary, all options including the use of the most destructive and lethal weapons will be evaluated by our military.”

The statement mentioned that endangering the security of a state with nuclear weapons by the US and South Korea could lead to “the most serious consequences” and called for the irresponsible and dangerous military actions of the US and South Korea to be stopped immediately, once again warning about the severe consequences they could bring about.

The US and South Korea had previously conducted a joint exercise titled Freedom Shield aimed at enhancing the military intervention capabilities of the Washington-Seoul alliance.

North Korea had strongly criticized the US and South Korea, claiming that the exercise increased regional tension.