N. Korea’s foreign ministry said the U.S. and South Korea will start the
large-scale 2026 Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercise on Aug. 17 and called the
drills an invasion-war rehearsal. The ministry cited U.S. comments that the
exercise differs from the past five years and will emphasize adapting
war-execution capabilities to modern warfare, saying this signals preparation
for actual military confrontation with N. Korea. Pyongyang warned the drills are
more provocative and dangerous than last year and pose a serious threat to its
national and regional security environment.
