North Korea’s defence minister, No Kwang Chol, denounced the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise that the United States and South Korea plan to run from 18–28 August, calling the annual manoeuvres a “direct military provocation.” In a statement released by state news agency KCNA, No said the Korean People’s Army would adopt a “thoroughgoing and resolute counter-action posture” and exercise its sovereign right to self-defence should any operation cross what Pyongyang termed a boundary line. The allies say the 11-day drill, involving command-and-control simulations and field training, is designed to bolster readiness against North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Military officials in Seoul and Washington last week postponed about 20 of the 40 scheduled field drills, citing extreme heat and flood damage, a decision broadly viewed as part of President Lee Jae Myung’s effort to ease tensions after his election in June. Roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are permanently stationed in South Korea. Seoul’s defence ministry reiterated on Monday that the exercise is defensive in nature and contributes to regional stability. Pyongyang’s rhetoric is familiar, but analysts noted the warning came at a higher level than in recent years, indicating North Korea intends to keep pressure on the new government in Seoul despite recent symbolic conciliatory steps such as the mutual removal of border loudspeakers.