The exercise, dubbed "Freedom Edge", commenced on Thursday and involved navy destroyers, fighter jets, and the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. The objective of the exercise was to enhance defenses against potential missile attacks, submarines, and air threats.

The joint military drills were originally planned during a trilateral summit held at Camp David last year. The purpose of these exercises was to strengthen military cooperation amidst tensions on the Korean peninsula arising from North Korea's weapons testing. In response to the exercise, North Korea's foreign ministry expressed its opposition, stating that it would not overlook the formation of a military bloc led by the US and its allies. The ministry further added that North Korea would protect regional peace with an aggressive and overwhelming response, as reported by the KCNA news agency on Sunday.

According to North Korea's foreign ministry, the United States had been persistently attempting to establish a link between South Korea and Japan to NATO. The ministry highlighted South Korea's intention to supply weapons to Ukraine as an example of this alleged effort by Washington. South Korea had previously announced that it would review the possibility of directly providing arms to Ukraine in protest against a recent mutual defense pact signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both Russia and North Korea have denied any involvement in weapons transactions related to the conflict in Ukraine.

In a separate development, North Korea's ruling party convened a key meeting, with Kim Jong-un presiding over the second day's proceedings. State media reported that Kim addressed "deviations" impeding economic development and outlined the focus for the second half of the year.

It is important to note that North Korea has consistently condemned joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, viewing them as a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul. Last year, the three countries conducted joint naval missile defense and anti-submarine exercises aimed at improving their response capabilities to potential North Korean threats.

The tensions between North Korea and its neighboring countries continue to persist as military exercises and geopolitical relations undergo significant shifts. The impact of these dynamics on regional stability and the prospects for future dialogue remain uncertain.