North Korea Claims Right to Self-Defense Ahead of U.S.-South Korea Drills; Additional Missile Launches Possible

On the 14th, ahead of the 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' joint U.S.-South Korea exercise scheduled to begin on the 17th, North Korea issued a protest via a statement by a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, mentioning the exercise of a "resolute right to self-defense."

'Ulchi Freedom Shield' is a regular joint U.S.-South Korea exercise designed to defend the Korean Peninsula in times of contingency. This drill will run from the 17th to the 27th.

North Korea's statement claimed that "(The exercise) does not hide the fact that its purpose lies in the completion of practical military confrontation preparations against our country." It further asserted, "The U.S. and South Korea have admitted that this exercise, which they staunchly claim is 'routine' and 'defensive,' is essentially a rehearsal for a war of aggression."

The criticism in the statement also extended to trilateral military cooperation. The statement went on to say, "The triangular military coordination system among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, which is mutating into a nuclear alliance, and the military expansion of Japan and South Korea further highlight the danger of the 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' joint military exercise, which mobilizes all military assets and warfighting methods possessed by the U.S. and South Korea."

Prior to this statement, North Korea launched ballistic missiles into the East Sea twice this month on the 6th and 12th.