What did North Korea say about the South Korea-U.S. Freedom Flag air drills?

A spokesperson for North Korea’s defense ministry said the exercise was provocative and claimed the forces and aircraft involved demonstrated a military purpose. The statement said North Korean armed forces would deter threats with force.

When did the 2026 Freedom Flag exercise begin, and how long is it scheduled to last?

South Korea and the United States launched the biannual exercise on Monday, Oct. 26, for a two-week run. North Korea issued its denunciation on Friday while the drills were ongoing.

Why do North Korea and the allies characterize the Freedom Flag drills differently?

North Korea has long denounced the allies’ joint exercises as rehearsals for an invasion. South Korea and the United States describe Freedom Flag as defensive and say it is designed to improve interoperability, strengthen response capabilities and contribute to regional stability.

N. Korea slams S. Korea, US' Freedom Flag air drills, vows to deter with force

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Summary

North Korea denounced the South Korea-U.S. Freedom Flag air exercise on Friday and vowed to deter it with force. Seoul and Washington began the two-week exercise on Monday, Oct. 26. Pyongyang said the drills’ participating forces and aircraft showed they had a military purpose, while the allies describe the exercise as defensive and aimed at improving interoperability and response capabilities.

Key Facts

The exercise is biannual and runs for two weeks.
North Korea’s defense ministry spokesperson issued the statement, which was carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
Pyongyang said the exercise involved the allies’ Army, Navy and Marines, as well as air-refueling tankers and attack drones.
North Korea has long described the allies’ joint exercises as rehearsals for an invasion, while South Korea and the United States say the drills are defensive.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 30, 2026 4:23 pm KST

An F-16 fighter jet takes off from Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, Monday, as South Korea and the United States launch their Freedom Flag exercise. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Air Force

North Korea on Friday denounced the ongoing combined air drills between South Korea and the United States, vowing to "thoroughly" deter the allies' exercise with force, Pyongyang's state media reported.

A spokesperson at North Korea's defense ministry issued the statement as Seoul and Washington launched the biannual Freedom Flag exercise on Monday for a two-week run.

"The U.S. and the ROK military warmongers launched the provocative large-scale joint air drill Freedom Flag against our state on Oct. 26 by mobilizing huge air forces," read the statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

North Korea said the drills involved the Army, Navy and Marines from allied forces and mobilized air refueling tanker and attack drones, citing them as evidence for their "military purpose" contrary to the defensive character as proclaimed by the allies.

"Our armed forces will thoroughly deter threats with force and only act in such manner that the enemy states can understand," it said.

North Korea has long denounced Seoul and Washington's joint exercise as a rehearsal for an invasion of the North though the allies say such drills are defensive in nature.

Freedom Flag is a biannual exercise designed to enhance the combined interoperability of the allied forces, strengthening response capabilities and contributing to regional stability.

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