North Korea has strongly criticized the U.S.-South Korea joint exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' (UFS), which will be conducted for 10 days starting from the 18th, stating on the 11th that it will strictly exercise its sovereign rights in self-defense against any provocative actions that cross the line.
North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chul stated in a speech published through the Labor Party's organ, the Rodong Sinmun, on this day that "we strongly condemn the U.S.-South Korea provocative actions and sternly warn of the negative consequences that will follow," according to the Korean Central News Agency on the 11th.
He noted that "the military demonstrations towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will surely bring about adverse effects, making the security of the U.S. and South Korea less secure," and emphasized that "deterring the attacks of hostile countries and responding to military provocations while safeguarding national safety and regional peace is the absolute mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's military."
This statement was an official position announced by the North Korean Defense Minister, reaffirming North Korea's hardline response to the U.S.-South Korea joint exercise.
Defense Minister No emphasized, "the military demonstrations towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will surely bring about adverse effects, making the security of the U.S. and South Korea less secure," adding that "deterring the attacks of hostile countries and responding to military provocations while safeguarding national safety and regional peace is the absolute mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's military."
He also warned that "our armed forces will prepare with thorough and resolute countermeasures for the U.S.-South Korea war exercises, and will strictly exercise its sovereign rights in self-defense against any provocation that crosses the line."
Earlier, on the 7th, the U.S. and South Korea announced that they would conduct the regular joint exercise UFS for the defense of the Korean Peninsula from the 18th to the 28th of this month. However, citing the heat wave, about half of the scheduled outdoor maneuver exercises (FTX) of more than 40 have been postponed to September. This postponement is interpreted as a reflection of the new government's softening stance towards North Korea.
North Korea has taken a tough stance without any separate mention regarding the postponement of some outdoor maneuver exercises during this training period. There are also speculations that Kim Yo-jong, the deputy chief of the Labor Party, has tied the reduction or postponement of the U.S.-South Korea joint exercise as a condition for dialogue.