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North Korea Says Trump's Scaled-Back Drills with South Korea Change Nothing
KCNA said the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise will worsen tensions and said North Korea will continue its right to self-defense.
On Wednesday, state media KCNA denounced the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, labeling the United States and South Korea "warmongers" for raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon on Sunday to "substantially reduce" U.S. participation in the annual exercise, citing his "very good relationship" with Kim Jong Un while seeking to revive engagement.
The KCNA commentary targeted the Command for shifting from an "auxiliary role" to reviving combat functions, claiming South Korea is becoming "a gathering place of multinational aggression forces and a test ground of modern warfare."
Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson visited the Defence Ministry on Tuesday to discuss scaling back the exercises, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung defended the drills as strictly defensive in nature.
Pyongyang vowed to continue exercising its right to self-defense to "completely neutralize the enemies military threat," warning that these drills will never produce results desired by the United States and South Korea.
North Korea says US-South Korea military drills cut 'change nothing' Kim Yo Jong called joint exercises provocative despite reduction. She also denied Kim Jong Un's contacts with Trump.