North Korea’s Defense Minister protests the Korea-U.S.-Japan ‘Freedom Edge’ exercise

North Korea has protested the start of the multidomain joint exercise “Freedom Edge” by South Korea, the United States, and Japan, warning of a forceful response. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency on the 7th, North Korean Defense Minister Kim Sungki claimed that the exercise is a provocative military drill justified under the pretext of responding to nuclear and missile threats. He said North Korea would take strong countermeasures if the United States and its allies attempt further military confrontation. Defense Minister Kim also criticized the “Orient Shield” exercise that the United States plans to conduct with Japan and Australia, as well as the plan to deploy the landbased intermediaterange missile system “Typhon” in Japan. North Korea said that military cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan is worsening security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and that it will respond with even more resolute action if necessary.