North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has chaired a meeting of the Central Military Commission to discuss and approve deterrent measures in response to major joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States. The state-run KCNA has reported that “important practical steps” have been taken to make more effective, forceful, and offensive use of the country’s deterrent measures.
The meeting has also been described as “significant” and as having underlined the “revolutionary character” of the KPA, the Party, and the people. North Korea’s Central Military Commission has taken these measures in response to Seoul and Washington’s Freedom Shield maneuvers, which will be held from March 13–23 and will include “large-scale” exercises.
North Korea has threatened to take “an unprecedented response” to these maneuvers, which the country often regards as a rehearsal to invade its territory. The last time maneuvers of this scale were conducted, North Korea responded by firing more than 30 missiles in three days, including one of intercontinental range.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached an all-time high following the year 2022, in which North Korea conducted a record number of weapons tests while the allies conducted major maneuvers and deployed US strategic assets in the region. Despite international efforts to encourage dialogue, North Korea has rejected offers to return to dialogue.