Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- The U.S.-ROK large-scale joint military drill Ulji Freedom Shield officially started on August 18.

Earlier, the enemies, while spreading such false rumor as the so-called adjustment, postponement and reduction of the drill on a large scale, misled the world public opinion as if they were "contributing" to peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region by intentionally adjusting the level of the current war drill "in consideration of the security environment in the region".

The adjustment farce was not the first time in the 70-odd year-long history of the U.S.-ROK war drills for aggression against the DPRK, and every time there were such ear-piercing words as "computer simulation training mode" and "minimization of the level of participation and the reduction of scale".

However, such silly jargon has never played a practical role in defusing tension on the Korean peninsula and has never had a tinge of influence on the enforcement of provocative and aggressive anti-DPRK war drills.

Under such deceptive and embellishing trick of diverting the attention of the world people elsewhere, the enemies have renewed the worst and highest records in history and steadily increased the scale, form, method and intensity of the U.S.-ROK joint military drills and their provocative and violent nature.

This is an objective fact that no one can deny and a stark reality that is being confirmed again through this year's drill.

The drill is bringing together the U.S. forces in the ROK and the forces of the ROK army as the main, and the expedition of the U.S. marines and armed forces of "UN Command" member states outside the region. And more than 580 000 persons from 4 000-odd institutions and organizations across the ROK are participating in the drill. The scale of the drill is very enormous and the number of planned field mobile exercises is at the highest level.

The drill scenarios have been practiced in all-round domains including the ground, sea, air and cyber while steadily updating and applying new manuals and methods of modern warfare. In particular, the preemptive strike elements under the signboard of "deterrence of nuclear use" of someone have been set as the main item of the drill as in the past. This is another vivid expression of the hostile nature of Freedom Shield this year.

The enemies are claiming that some items of the field mobile exercises will be postponed to next month, but the basic exercises reflected in the U.S.-ROK joint drill plan are carried out as they are. Only the dirty drills to be staged by the ROK army alone will be carried over. The fact proves once again that the drill adjustment farce being staged by the present U.S. and the ROK authorities as if it was a measure different to the preceding drill is nothing but a deceptive trick.

No matter what duplicity of ostrich policy the enemies may use, they can never cover up their immutable nature of the U.S.-ROK joint military drill as the one with the longest history on the earth, the largest-ever war drill in the Asia-Pacific region and the most undisguised war rehearsal for aggression in hostility.

In view of the facts of the past and the present, the aggressive and provocative nature of the U.S.-ROK large-scale joint military drill and its negative impact on the situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region remain unchanged.

The world people should know clearly.

Where is the source of disaster harming the security of the Korean peninsula and the region and why do we call enemies are also enemies?

No matter how many years may pass and the regime may change, the U.S. has not changed its hostile policy toward the DPRK, the policy to persistently deny the constitutional position of the DPRK and stifle it by force of arms. The same is true in the wild ambition of the ROK that openly stipulated in its constitution the DPRK as its main enemy and mark the inviolable territory of the DPRK as its territory and is dreaming a pipedream of "unification by absorption".

As long as the hostile entity against the DPRK remains unchanged, there will be no change in the thoroughgoing and merciless will of our armed forces to counter the military provocations of the enemy states, and the trustworthy strength of the DPRK racing for lasting peace settlement on the Korean peninsula and in the region will steadily increase.

The firm will and ability of the DPRK to defend the sovereignty and security of the country against the U.S.-ROK joint military drill which is immutable in hostility will be clearly expressed as practical actions, and it is clear that the DPRK's counteraction will be proactive and overwhelming. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2025.08.20.)