SEOUL, Aug 19, 2025 – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has condemned the ongoing South Korea–US military exercises, calling them hostile and accusing the allies of preparing for war. His remarks came during an inspection of the Choe Hyon, North Korea’s most advanced warship, which is being equipped with nuclear-capable weapons.
The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) drills began Monday, mobilising 21,000 troops — including 18,000 South Koreans — for simulated command operations and field training. Washington and Seoul describe the 11-day exercise as defensive, but Pyongyang has long dismissed it as a rehearsal for invasion.
Kim’s Warning
According to state media, Kim claimed the drills had become “more provocative” by incorporating a “nuclear element.” He vowed “proactive and overwhelming countermeasures” and said the situation required a rapid expansion of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
“The security environment around the DPRK is getting more serious day by day, and the prevailing situation requires radical and swift change in military strategy,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted him as saying.
North Korea’s Naval Push
Kim’s visit to the western port of Nampo focused on the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer, first unveiled in April and expected to enter service next year. The warship is designed to carry air-defense and anti-ship systems, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
North Korea has also built two other destroyers of the same class. One, the Kang Kon, was damaged in a failed launch ceremony last May but later repaired. Kim also reviewed plans for a third destroyer, scheduled for completion in October.
Rising Tensions
The drills come at a time of worsening ties on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has accelerated its nuclear program and strengthened its alignment with Moscow since Russia’s war in Ukraine. Negotiations with Washington and Seoul have remained stalled since the collapse of the 2019 Trump–Kim summit.
South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, has expressed a willingness to resume dialogue. Last week, he called for restoring a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing border tensions, but Pyongyang has so far shown no interest.
Outlook
While Seoul and Washington frame the exercises as necessary for deterrence, Kim’s latest remarks underscore the risk of escalation, as North Korea pushes ahead with modernising its navy and strengthening nuclear strike capabilities.
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