The Korea Herald reported Friday that Pyongyang vowed to deter what it called threats with force after the allies began their two-week Freedom Flag air exercise on Oct. 26.
In a statement carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a Defense Ministry spokesperson cited the allied Army, Navy and Marines, an air-refueling tanker and attack drones. The ministry argued that those forces and aircraft indicated what it considered the exercise's military purpose. The spokesperson said North Korea's armed forces would “thoroughly deter threats with force.”
The Korea Herald said South Korea and the United States began the biannual exercise Monday for a two-week run. The allies characterize the drills as defensive. Yonhap described Freedom Flag's stated aims as helping allied forces coordinate, strengthen their response capabilities and support regional stability.
Pyongyang has repeatedly cast the joint exercises as preparations to invade North Korea, according to The Korea Herald. Yonhap reported, citing South Korean officials, that the Oct. 23 formation flight paired the KF-21 with U.S. reconnaissance and fighter aircraft. A South Korean Air Force official said the flight was intended to build experience with the jet before Freedom Flag.
