Overview

• North Korea’s KCNA labeled the July–August multinational drills “highly provocative” and warned they would “inevitably provoke protest and retaliation” from regional states.
• Pyongyang accused the operations of unprecedented scale across sea, land, air, cyber and space domains, highlighting amphibious landings, live firing with advanced fighters and long-range missiles.
• The state news agency described the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercise on the Korean Peninsula, scheduled for Aug. 18–28, as another “manic” drill that will further heighten tensions.
• KCNA asserted without independent verification that a British carrier strike group will call at Yokosuka, Japan, to join additional Pacific exercises.
• Analysts caution that the cycle of allied drills and North Korean warnings raises miscalculation risks as Pyongyang conducted artillery firing exercises on Aug. 12 to boost combat readiness.