North Korea Warns of New Deterrent Ahead of US-South Korea Drills

North Korea on Friday threatened unspecified stern steps against the United States and South Korea ahead of their upcoming military drills.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry called the U.S.-South Korean training a rehearsal for an aggressive war that triggers instability. The ministry stated its consistent principle is to respond to a new level of threat with a new level of deterrent. The U.S. and South Korean militaries are to start their major summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises on Monday, August 17, and they will last 11 days until August 27.

The allies describe the drills as defensive and meant to strengthen readiness against North Korean threats. A U.S. military statement said forces will practice joint operations in complex scenarios, including a live-fire exercise, a wet gap crossing, and distribution of prepositioned military equipment. North Korea also said the drills would be of a more serious provocative nature and dangerousness than last year and involve all military assets and war-fighting modes of the U.S. and South Korea.

North Korea's neighbors detected two ballistic missile launches off the North's east coast in the past week. The latest test came on Wednesday, when a missile from Wonsan flew about 700km eastward and fell into the Sea of Japan. This followed another test six days earlier of a short-range ballistic missile, also likely from Wonsan.

North Korea's state media has not acknowledged these recent missile tests, departing from its usual practice. This year's drills are tailored to prepare soldiers to fight North Koreans with modern combat experience from the Russia-Ukraine theater, including drone, cyber-attack, and GPS jamming capabilities. Ukraine recently accused Moscow of launching North Korean ballistic missiles in a raid that killed at least nine people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said Russia wants to bring in another 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops. North Korea and Russia signed a defense pact in the summer of 2024.