Ministry of Foreign Affairs on North Korea's Opposition to ROK-US Drills: "Maintaining a Strong Defense Posture Is the Government's Responsibility"

North Korea's Uri Minjokkkiri Criticizes "Military Invasion-Based Northern Aggression Real-Combat Exercise"
Government Denies, Emphasizing Defensive Nature Within ROK-US Combined Defense Posture

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated regarding North Korea's opposition to the South Korea-US joint exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' (UFS) that "Maintaining a robust defense posture through joint exercises between South Korea and the US is the government's rightful duty to protect the safety of our people."

At a regular briefing on the same day, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in response to related questions, "North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities are continuously advancing," and emphasized again that "the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise being conducted this time is a defensive exercise held annually as part of the South Korea-US joint defense posture."

Earlier, North Korea's external propaganda media Uriminzokkiri criticized the exercise in a commentary on the same day, calling "Ulchi Freedom Shield the most adventurous North invasion field exercise premised on military aggression against us."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that if North Korea conducts a nuclear test, it will impose independent sanctions separate from those at the United Nations Security Council level.

Spokesperson Choi responded to the question, "Will virtual currency be included in independent sanctions if North Korea conducts a nuclear test?" by saying, "North Korea's 7th nuclear test should not happen," and added, "If such a situation occurs, we plan to implement various related measures, including independent sanctions in the virtual currency sector."