Seoul: North Korea on Monday criticized the joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States, labeling them as a “dangerous provocative act.” The denunciation comes as the allies are set to commence their annual joint drills.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the North Korean foreign ministry released a statement on Sunday, just a day before the 11-day exercise was to begin. These drills involve both computer-simulated activities and on-field training. The ministry accused South Korea and the United States of “persistently staging the large-scale joint military exercises” despite North Korea’s repeated warnings, suggesting that these actions could lead to an “aggravated security crisis.”

The statement, reported by the Korean Central News Agency, described the drills as potentially igniting a physical conflict on the Korean peninsula, escalating tensions to an extreme level. This year’s Freedom Shield exercise is notably the first significant military exercise under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, involving 16 large-scale on-field drills, an increase from the previous year.

North Korea’s ministry criticized the exercise as a demonstration of U.S. “military hysteria,” asserting that it continues despite any policy changes resulting from the U.S. regime shift. The ministry claimed this behavior underscores an inherent anti-DPRK stance by the U.S., with DPRK referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s official name.

The North Korean foreign ministry further warned that the U.S.’s actions might undermine its security, describing the military exercises as the largest-ever provocation. In response, North Korea vowed to intensify efforts to deter perceived nuclear threats from its enemies and maintain peace on the peninsula.

The statement also suggested that the U.S.’s consistent hostile approach towards North Korea, which it claims denies the DPRK’s legitimate existence, could justify North Korea’s stringent counteractions. Historically, North Korea has reacted strongly to joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington, viewing them as war preparations, while the allies maintain that the drills are defensive.

Last Friday, North Korea warned that the allies would face a “horrible price” for conducting the joint military exercises, shortly after the drills were announced.