DPRK Foreign Ministry Warns of 'New Level of Deterrent' Ahead of Ulchi Freedom Shield

North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement late on August 13, 2026 (carried by state media into August 14) denouncing the upcoming US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise — set to begin August 17 and run 11 days with roughly 18,000 South Korean troops alongside the US's 28,500-strong Korea contingent — as 'a rehearsal for an aggressive war' with 'a more serious provocative nature and dangerousness than last year.' The ministry said the drills reflected US intent to 'master modern warfare tactics' and warned Pyongyang would 'respond to a new level of a threat with a new level of a deterrent,' vowing to 'absolutely defend the supreme interests of state security' and framing the exercises as preparation for 'substantial military confrontation.' The statement also accused Washington, Seoul and Tokyo of moving toward a 'nuclear alliance.' The warning follows North Korea's two ballistic missile tests in the preceding week (August 6 and August 12) and is consistent with Pyongyang's pattern of escalatory rhetoric — and often further missile tests — ahead of major joint US-ROK exercises.