Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stated that joint US-South Korea military drills beginning this week are a "provocative and aggressive war rehearsal." She warned these exercises would harm regional stability, according to state media KCNA.
Kim described the annual Freedom Shield exercises, involving over 18,000 South Korean and US forces, as reflecting the allies' "habitual hostile policy" towards North Korea. The drills are reportedly staged "day and night across the territorial ground, sea, air, outer space and cyberspace" of North Korea.
South Korea and the United States maintain the drills, running from March 9 to March 19, are "defensive in nature." They are designed to incorporate deterrence scenarios related to North Korea's nuclear weapons program and will also support the transfer of US wartime operational control to South Korea.
This development follows Kim Jong Un's recent declaration at the ruling Party Congress to focus on expanding North Korea's nuclear arsenal.