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 ye

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.