Russia sharply criticized the recently concluded South Korea-U.S. annual combined command post exercise (CPX) Freedom Shield (FS), calling it "in effect war preparation."
It also widened the front by warning that it would "regard" Japan's moves to aid Ukraine "as hostile acts."
According to Reuters on the 25th (local time), Russia Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing, "As tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula, the United States and South Korea conducted another combined military exercise from Mar. 9 to 19."
Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing, "In a situation where tensions on the Korean Peninsula are rising, the United States and South Korea conducted another combined military exercise from Mar. 9 to 19," adding, "Officially it is called a defensive drill, but judging by the maneuvers and the equipment mobilized, it is clearly war preparation."
According to the South Korea-U.S. military authorities, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command deployed about 18,000 troops to this year's FS exercise, similar to last year.
North Korea immediately pushed back. Just one day after the start of the drill, a statement in the name of Kim Yo-jong warned, "The military show of force by hostile forces could lead to consequences so horrific they defy imagination."
Spokesperson Zakharova also took aim at Japan's moves to aid Ukraine. Zakharova said, "Such actions will only further delay a resolution of the situation," and warned, "Any attempt by Japan to provide lethal weapons and military equipment to the Kyiv regime will be regarded as a hostile act and will be met with strong retaliation."
Earlier, Kyodo News reported that the Japanese government is considering joining the Ukraine Priority Urgent Requirements List (PURL), a scheme under which North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states purchase U.S.-made weapons to support Ukraine.