The Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministry insists that the joint exercises with the United States are ostensibly defensive in nature. "The exercises between the Republic of Korea and the US are defensive in nature and are held annually to maintain defense capabilities in response to the growing threat from North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," the ROK Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as quoted by Yonhap news agency. The department claims that such maneuvers "contribute to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in Northeast Asia." Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that the military maneuvers of the United States and the Republic of Korea near the borders of the DPRK are openly provocative. She noted that according to the participants in the exercises, their purpose "is to practice preventive strikes against North Korea, including the use of nuclear weapons."

The Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministry insists that the joint exercises with the United States are ostensibly defensive in nature. "The exercises between the Republic of Korea and the US are defensive in nature and are held annually to maintain defense capabilities in response to the growing threat from North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," the ROK Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as quoted by Yonhap news agency. The department claims that such maneuvers "contribute to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in Northeast Asia." Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that the military maneuvers of the United States and the Republic of Korea near the borders of the DPRK are openly provocative. She noted that according to the participants in the exercises, their purpose "is to practice preventive strikes against North Korea, including the use of nuclear weapons."