North Korea warns of nuclear conflict over US‑South Korea drills

The North Korean Defense Ministry demands an end to the joint military drills by South Korea and the United States. According to a statement relayed by the North Korean news agency KCNA on Tuesday, Pyongyang views these exercises as acts of aggression and hints at potential repercussions.

On Monday, South Korea and the United States commenced their annual spring military drills, dubbed Freedom Shield. This year, the scale of participation has significantly increased compared to the previous year. The primary objective of these drills is to enhance readiness in response to the evolving nuclear and missile threats posed by North Korea.

A spokesperson for the North Korean Defense Ministry criticized these "reckless and impetuous” military drills, urging Seoul and Washington to cease their activities immediately.

The spokesperson argued that “drills of this nature can never be purely defensive, but rather, they aim at invading the North.” He highlighted the expanded scope of these exercises, which now include the participation of 11 members states of the UN Command, cautioning that “even a tiny spark could ignite a nuclear war.” He warned that the US and South Korea would "bear the consequences of their misguided choices.”

The bilateral military exercises between the USA and South Korea are scheduled to conclude on March 14. Both allies insist that these drills are defensive and aim to counteract threats from North Korea.