North Korea Slams Joint US-South Korea 'Freedom Flag' Drills, Vowing to 'Thoroughly Deter Threats with Force'

North Korea has condemned the "Freedom Flag" combined exercise being conducted by the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces, threatening to "thoroughly deter threats with power."

In a statement issued today, a spokesperson for North Korea's Ministry of National Defence denounced the Freedom Flag exercise, which began on October 26, calling it a "large-scale joint air drill of a provocative nature targeting our state, staged by warmongers of the U.S. and South Korean militaries who mobilized massive aerial forces."

The spokesperson noted that not only the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces, but also the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps are participating in the drill, deploying fighter jets, early warning aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and attack drones. The spokesperson also noted that the U.S. III Marine Expeditionary Force is conducting multi-domain reconnaissance training in South Korea for the first time, drills that were previously held in Hawaii.

Regarding this, the spokesperson claimed, "It clearly reveals the disparity between the 'defensive nature' of the drills they insist upon and the actual military objectives they pursue."

The statement continued, "Amid the intentional escalation of the DPRK-South Korea border situation by the South Korean military gangsters, the military moves of hostile nations intensifying right at our doorstep exacerbate the danger of triggering an accidental armed clash carrying catastrophic consequences."

The defense ministry spokesperson also stated that North Korea could take armed responses in the name of exercising its sovereignty against hostile acts threatening its security, emphasizing, "There are no limits to our choices to maintain a strong deterrence posture and enhance our control over the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region."

The spokesperson warned, "The clearest intent of confrontation is bound to be met with the clearest will to respond.

Our armed forces will thoroughly deter threats with power and act solely in a manner that hostile countries can comprehend."

Freedom Flag is a large-scale combined air exercise held twice a year by the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces to strengthen combined operational capabilities and interoperability.

The second-half exercise for this year, running through November 6 at Kunsan Air Base, mobilizes fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and combat unmanned aerial vehicles from the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It also includes South Korean-led combined drills in preparation for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON).

(Photo courtesy of the ROK Air Force, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.