North Korea Slams US-South Korea Drills, Vows Self-Defence

North Korea has publicly condemned the ongoing joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea, describing the allies as "warmongers" who are escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The criticism, carried by state media KCNA on Wednesday, specifically targeted the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.

The statement reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to its right to self-defence against what it perceives as military threats from Washington and Seoul. The commentary warned that the allies' actions would worsen stability across the peninsula and the wider Asia-Pacific region, though it did not specify what countermeasures North Korea might take.

The denunciation arrives despite a recent order from U.S. President Donald Trump to significantly reduce American participation in the annual drills. Trump has cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and has been seeking to revive diplomatic engagement. He also mentioned on Monday that Kim had responded to his outreach, without disclosing the nature of the contact.

South Korean media have reported that U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson visited the South's Defence Ministry on Tuesday to discuss plans to scale back the exercise. The drills began as scheduled on Monday.

The KCNA commentary did not directly mention Trump or his recent actions. The criticism also follows remarks from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who described the exercises as defensive in nature and reiterated that Seoul has no intention of using them to attack the North or raise tensions.

Pyongyang has a long history of denouncing such allied drills as hostile acts, while Washington and Seoul maintain that the exercises are defensive and essential for maintaining readiness against North Korea's military capabilities. Under Kim's leadership, North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear weapons and missile programmes despite existing U.N. sanctions.