Kathmandu— North Korea has strongly condemned planned joint military drills between the United States and South Korea, scheduled to begin August 17th and last until August 27th. The North Korean Foreign Ministry accused the US of escalating tensions globally and lowering the threshold for nuclear weapons usage, framing the exercises – named “Ulchi Freedom Shield” – as a dangerous provocation. Pyongyang stated it will respond to perceived threats with increased deterrence, while also pointing to lessons learned from its reported deployment of soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

Escalating Tensions and Nuclear Rhetoric

The North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson asserted that the US-Japan-South Korea military cooperation is evolving into a nuclear alliance. This statement, published by Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), signaled an intent to meet what it views as a heightened threat with a corresponding increase in its own deterrent capabilities. The ministry further accused the United States of pushing the world “to the brink of nuclear war” through its actions and rhetoric.

Drill Focus Adapts to New Threats

The upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will involve approximately 18,000 South Korean soldiers and a 28,500-strong US contingent. This year’s drills are designed to counter emerging threats such as drone attacks, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks, reflecting an adaptation to North Korea's evolving military capabilities. According to Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesperson for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command, these exercises specifically account for lessons learned by North Korean soldiers deployed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ukrainian Conflict’s Impact on Peninsula Security

Reports indicate that North Korea sent an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 soldiers to support Russia's war effort in Ukraine, and is potentially preparing to deploy another 10,000. The experience gained by these troops – despite reported casualties – has been brought back to North Korea, influencing the perceived threat level on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang also noted that the drills are occurring amidst heightened global military and political instability in regions like Europe and the Middle East.

Recent Missile Launches

The condemnation of the military exercises follows recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea. On Wednesday, Pyongyang fired a missile towards the sea off its east coast, marking the second such launch in just six days. These actions further contribute to regional tensions and underscore North Korea’s ongoing development of its weapons programs.

North Korea has consistently denounced military drills conducted by the US and South Korea as provocative acts that exacerbate instability on the Korean Peninsula. The upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are expected to proceed as planned, despite Pyongyang's strong objections.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.