North Korea has issued a sharp rebuke against the recent trilateral military drills involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan, alleging that they are "preemptive strike exercises" targeting Pyongyang. The accusation was published in the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party.
The drills, which included U.S. led air exercises near Japan and logistics operations between U.S. and South Korean Marines, were labelled by Pyongyang as direct threats to its sovereignty. North Korea claims these maneuvers represent coordinated military action aimed at destabilizing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The article condemned the growing security cooperation between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, calling it a collective military alliance "intent on crushing" the North. It defended the regime&rsquo;s ongoing military buildup, including nuclear and missile capabilities, as a "fair and just" response to the escalating threat from U.S. strategic assets deployed across Hawaii, Guam, and Japan.
In a separate statement via the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea also criticized the U.S.-Japan alliance, calling it a &ldquo;nuclear coalition&rdquo; that legitimizes the North's enhanced deterrence strategy. Citing Japan&rsquo;s recent visit to a U.S. B-52 bomber base and joint nuclear-simulation drills, Pyongyang warned that regional security is now teetering on a dangerous edge.
These warnings come as South Korea steps up three-way military collaboration with the U.S. and Japan in response to North Korea&rsquo;s advancing missile and nuclear programs.

North Korea Calls US Drills 'Preemptive Strikes'

North Korea accuses US-led military drills of being preemptive strike rehearsals

North Korea Calls US Drills 'Preemptive Strikes'

North Korea accuses US-led military drills of being preemptive strike rehearsals

August 2, 2025 | 14:27 IST