North Korea has criticized an ongoing U.S.-led multinational military exercise in Hawaii, labeling it a “war rehearsal” that could prompt responses from regional countries. The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), currently led by South Korea, has drawn ire from North Korea, with the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) denouncing it as a provocative move by the U.S. and its allies. The KCNA warned that such actions could lead to a series of countermeasures by countries in the region.
RIMPAC, which began on June 24 and will continue until July 31, involves over 25,000 personnel from 31 nations, including South Korea. The KCNA highlighted joint drills conducted by U.S. and South Korean marines on the USS Essex amphibious assault ship, as well as the presence of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, along with what it referred to as Washington’s allies. The KCNA expressed concerns that these activities could destabilize peace and security in the region, particularly on the Korean Peninsula.
The state media emphasized North Korea’s right to enhance its defense capabilities against perceived threats, asserting that strengthening its war deterrent is a sovereign prerogative that cannot be obstructed. South Korea’s participation in the exercise includes the deployment of assets such as the Aegis destroyer Jeongjo the Great, a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and the submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho.
