North Korea condemns US–South Korea military drills as ‘Provocative’

Friday 28 November 2025 - 10:30

By: Sahili Aya

North Korea condemns US–South Korea military drills as ‘Provocative’

North Korea’s state media issued a fierce denunciation on Friday of recent US–South Korea joint military exercises, accusing Washington and Seoul of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The criticism focused particularly on the “Silent Shark” anti-submarine drills held in Guam, as well as additional operations conducted near Pyeongtaek in South Korea.

In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang claimed that the exercises were designed to “deter” North Korea and destabilize the region. The agency argued that US military activities throughout the year had repeatedly undermined strategic stability in Northeast Asia.

KCNA also drew attention to recent deployments, including the arrival of US F-16 fighter jets at Osan Air Base and the creation of a forward arming and refueling point on Japan’s Yonaguni Island. Additionally, it criticized an upcoming Proliferation Security Initiative exercise scheduled to take place in Japanese waters.

According to the commentary, these actions form part of “habitual and reckless” military behavior by the United States, which Pyongyang accuses of provoking regional insecurity and attempting to forcefully shape the strategic balance.

The agency warned that North Korea would continue to counter what it called “confrontation-oriented moves” by its adversaries, stressing that any threat to its security “will become a direct target” for the DPRK.

Meanwhile, acting US Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim underlined the need for Washington and Seoul to maintain a unified approach. Speaking at a forum in Seoul, he emphasized the importance of a shared understanding of challenges on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region.