North Korea condemned a planned joint military exercise by South Korea and the U.S. as a “direct military provocation” and warned of countermeasures, despite signs of easing tensions across the border under South Korea’s new leadership.

North Korea’s Defence Minister No Kwang Chol said its armed forces have an “absolute mission” to defend national security against the 11-day drills, describing them as a “real and dangerous threat.”

“The armed forces of the DPRK ( Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) will respond to the war drills of the U.S. and South Korea with thorough and resolute counteraction and will strictly exercise their sovereign right,” No said in a statement carried by the KCNA news agency.

No criticised the exercises as further proof of confrontational intent by the allies, which he said increase hostility and destabilise regional security.

North Korea regularly condemns South Korea–U.S. drills, previously calling some a “rehearsal” for nuclear war, even while conducting missile tests and artillery exercises.

South Korea and the U.S. announced last week that the annual exercise will begin on 18 August to test command control and troop mobilisation under an updated security strategy addressing the nuclear threat from North Korea.

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