North Korea warns of new ‘deterrent’ ahead of US-South drills
This photo shows a drill between US and South Korean militaries in Yeou, South Korea in August 2025.
North Korea warned on Aug. 14 it could respond with “a new level of deterrent” to upcoming joint U.S.-South Korea drills simulating battle against Pyongyang’s troops battle-hardened from deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The 11-day exercises due to begin on Aug. 17 are an annual fixture of the summer calendar, designed to prepare the United States and South Korea to defend against the nuclear-armed North.
Pyongyang regularly labels them rehearsals for an invasion and this week test-fired a ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan, signaling its opposition to the exercises.
