Arab News Japan

TOKYO: North Korea continued its attack on the United States and South Korea for holding the “Freedom Shield” military exercises, which it says was “a planned and provocative nuclear war exercise.”

North Korea’s Institute for Disarmament and Peace Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denouncing the exercise as “an extremely dangerous and reckless form of playing with fire.”

The Institute says, “Freedom Shield 2025” took place from March 10 to 20, “despite the increasing instability in the situation on the Korean Peninsula.”

It accused the United States of flying B1-B bombers over the Korean Peninsula and deploying a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier strike group. This year’s exercise, it said, was the first to be conducted in all areas, including land, sea, air, cyberspace, and space. The US reportedly mobilized the 8th Army, 7th Air Force, 7th Fleet, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Unit and the 1st Marine Division.

“What cannot be overlooked is that Operation Plan 2022, a war scenario devised in line with the Nuclear Operation Guidelines drawn up by the United States and South Korea in July last year and which envisages a ‘proactive strike on our nuclear facilities,’ was officially applied to this joint military exercise,” the Institute reported.

“The continued aggressive military exercises on the Korean Peninsula, where the warring sides are in sharp confrontation and where the conditions for ignition are ripe to escalate into a devastating armed conflict, are pushing the region into an unpredictable and uncontrollable situation.”

The North says the actions of the United States and its “followers” are forcing it to build up its military and stockpile weapons.

“The absolute value of protecting sovereign rights and stability lies in stockpiling an extremely powerful war deterrent that can always pre-emptively suppress military provocations by enemy countries. True defensive power is a strong offensive capability; possessing unstoppable, formidable offensive power and overwhelming striking force is the most reliable guarantee of preventing war and effectively deterring and controlling any threats or intimidation by an aggressor.”