N. Korea’s Kim raps US-S. Korea drills as attempt to ‘ignite war’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a 5,000-ton multipurpose destroyer on Aug. 18, 2025.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has criticized a joint military exercise by the United States and South Korea, saying it shows “their will to ignite a war” and could lead to the destruction of regional peace and security, state-run media said Tuesday.

Kim made the remarks the previous day as he inspected a weapons system operation test of a 5,000-ton multipurpose destroyer that was officially launched in the western port city of Nampho in April.

He also called for “rapid expansion” of the country’s nuclear arsenal, citing what he called the severe security environment faced by Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency report.

On Monday, Seoul and Washington kicked off the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise to enhance their readiness against threats from North Korea. But about half of the drills were postponed to September in a move seen as part of a conciliatory approach toward North Korea taken by new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Kim, however, said the annual joint exercise clearly underlines the two countries’ “intention to remain most hostile and confrontational” toward North Korea, adding they have been “recently plotting military nexus with the nuclear element involved.”

After observing the test of the Choe Hyon destroyer weapons system, Kim expressed satisfaction over progress achieved in making the country’s navy “high-tech and nuclear-armed,” KCNA said.

Receiving a report on a third 5,000-ton destroyer being built at a Nampho shipyard, Kim said it is “the most important state affairs” to “rapidly develop” the capability of the country’s navy to boost national defense, according to the news agency.

The leader said the security environment around North Korea “is getting more serious day by day,” adding “the prevailing situation requires us to make a radical and swift change in the existing military theory and practice and rapid expansion of nuclearization.”

Pyongyang aims to build the third Choe Hyon-class destroyer by October 2026. The warship visited by Kim on Monday, named after an anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter, is believed to be nuclear-capable, being equipped with supersonic cruise missile systems and tactical ballistic missile systems.