Seoul, South Korea — North Korea has condemned the joint U.S.-South Korean military drills as a “provocative act”, warning of the potential for war due to “an accidental single shot”. This statement comes just days after a tragic incident where Seoul’s air force mistakenly bombed a village within its own territory.
According to state media, North Korea’s foreign ministry stated, “This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot.”
The joint U.S.-South Korea exercise, named “Freedom Shield 2025”, is set to commence on Monday and will involve “live, virtual, and field-based training”, as per a statement from the U.S. military. This exercise is scheduled to continue until March 21.
Military cooperation between Seoul and Washington often draws harsh criticism from Pyongyang, which perceives these actions as preparations for an invasion. In response, North Korea frequently conducts missile tests.
The latest military exercise follows an incident on March 6, where two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally released eight bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with U.S. forces. Reports from South Korea’s National Fire Agency indicate that fifteen individuals, including both civilians and military personnel, were injured in this unfortunate event.
Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have reached one of their lowest points in years, with North Korea having launched numerous ballistic missiles last year, violating UN sanctions. It is important to note that the two Koreas remain technically at war, as their conflict from 1950-1953 ended with an armistice, not a formal peace treaty.
The United States maintains a significant military presence in South Korea, with tens of thousands of soldiers stationed there, partially to safeguard Seoul against potential threats from Pyongyang.
These large-scale Freedom Shield exercises are considered among the biggest annual joint military drills conducted by the allies. In its statement on Monday, North Korea’s foreign ministry described these exercises as “an aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal.”
Last week, North Korea also criticized the United States for “political and military provocations” linked to the visit of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan.
