As Korea, the United States and Japan began the regular multi-domain combined drill "Freedom Edge" on the 7th, North Korea threatened to "respond with powerful and resolute actions in practice."

Korean Central Television reports on the 3rd that Kim Jong-un delivers a speech at the opening session of the 15th National Teachers' Conference in Pyongyang on the 2nd. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

Kim Song-gi, North Korea's defense minister, in a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on the day, said, "The United States and Japan, and Korea are once again committing the provocative three-way multi-domain joint military exercise 'Freedom Edge' under the pretext of responding to the so-called nuclear and missile threats," and stated accordingly.

Kim then warned, "If the United States and its allies seek a new military confrontation with us, we will take powerful and reflexive countermeasures from a position of strength."

Kim, the defense minister, also mentioned "Orient Shield," a joint exercise the United States plans to conduct with Japan and Australia starting on the 8th. In particular, Kim criticized that during the drill the United States intends to deploy the ground-launched medium-range missile system "Typhon" to Japan. The Typhon is a system capable of operating Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6s.

Kim, the defense minister, argued that "the Japan-U.S.-Korea triangular military cooperation system is mutating into a dangerous offensive entity accompanied by nuclear elements," and claimed that the U.S.-led combined drills are "a grave security threat driving instability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region to a breaking point."

Kim then warned, "If the United States and its allies seek a new military confrontation with us, we, too, will take powerful and reflexive countermeasures from a position of strength."

Kim emphasized, "It is the consistent principle of the Republic's armed forces' military activities to never hesitate, even in the slightest, in carrying out its constitutional duty to deter hostile sources that threaten national security and to punish the instigators."

Kim, the defense minister, said, "We sound a warning over the reckless military machinations by the United States and the follower states that are creating worrisome military confrontation and the possibility of clashes in the Korean Peninsula region," and "sternly warn about the consequences it will bring."

Kim then warned, "If necessary, we will demonstrate the will and ability to respond to the enemies' machinations with more powerful and resolute actions in practice."

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