The statement underscored that these maneuvers, including the recent “Pacific Vanguard 2026” in Guam, are part of the US hegemonic strategy and consolidate trilateral military cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the primary target.

Kim warned that the escalation of war games, such as Cobra Gold, Pitch Black, RIMPAC, and Super Garuda Shield, is a vicious cycle of provocations that compels the DPRK to strengthen its national defense capabilities and nuclear deterrent.

KCNA published the official’s statement titled: “Continuous US-led war drills become the main factor worsening the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.”

Kim wrote, “Concerned by the abrupt shift in the region’s military structure, the United States seeks to intimidate other countries and expand its military dominance by frequently conducting war exercises of varying scales involving its allies.”

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