SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Tuesday denounced recent joint naval drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan, warning of "overwhelming" and "decisive" responses to any provocations from hostile countries.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued the message in a commentary, referring to the trilateral joint maritime drills conducted in international waters off South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju from Monday through Thursday last week.
The naval drills -- the first of their kind this year and since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office in January -- involved the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and aimed to enhance deterrence against North Korea's military threats.
The KCNA accused the trilateral drills of "escalating the already tense regional political and military situation to the extremes," noting they were conducted alongside the joint annual South Korea-U.S. exercise, "Freedom Shield."
"The U.S.' adventuristic frenzy to dominate the entire Asia-Pacific, along with hostile forces, is completely exceeding all precedents," the KCNA said.
The article also accused the Trump administration of merely "inheriting" hostile policies toward North Korea and advancing them further to stage "a war gamble" on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, while overturning other policies of the previous administration.
"Any provocations or threats from hostile countries will be met with overwhelming and decisive responses," the KCNA warned.
"As the U.S.' confrontational anti-North Korea frenzy worsens, our efforts and actions to safeguard national security and regional peace will double accordingly."
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson leaves a naval base in the southeastern port city of Busan, in this March 7, 2025, file photo as South Korea and the United States plan to launch the annual Freedom Shield exercise on March 10 for an 11-day run. (Yonhap)
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