N. Korea warns of 'self-defense' measures despite Trump's order to reduce drills with S. Korea

North Korea continued to criticize joint military drills between South Korea and the United States on Wednesday, despite U.S. President Donald Trump ordering a reduction in the exercises. The North denounced the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, vowing to neutralize any potential military threats. A KCNA commentary stated that North Korea would take all necessary steps to "completely neutralize the enemies' military threat" until Pyongyang faced "reckless dreams of overwhelming someone by force."

The editorial claimed the UFS drills had become more sophisticated and aimed at actual combat, targeting the expanding role of the U.S.-led U.N. Command in the exercise. North Korea accused South Korea of becoming a training ground for the alliance, a hub for multinational aggression forces, and a testing ground for modern warfare, warning that such drills would not yield the desired results.