North Korea Objects to the Korea-U.S.-Japan Freedom Edge Exercise

North Korea criticized the 실시 of the South KoreaU.S.Japan joint exercise “Freedom Edge,” calling it a serious security threat. According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korean Defense Minister Kim Seonggi said in a statement the previous day that if the United States and its allies attempt further military confrontation, North Korea will respond forcefully. In the statement, North Korea also mentioned not only Freedom Edge but also the U.S.JapanAustralia exercises, the deployment of a U.S. intermediaterange missile system to Japan, and efforts to deploy U.S. special forces to South Korea. However, it was interpreted as maintaining the existing level of external criticism rather than signaling any direct military action. Experts say this response is similar to the level seen during past South KoreaU.S. or South KoreaU.S.Japan exercises. The Unification Ministry also said it views this as an extension of recent criticism of joint exercises and will watch to see whether there is any further response. Meanwhile, North Korea also reported the completion of the Tumen River automobile bridge connecting to Russia’s Hassan, continuing its close alignment with China and Russia.