Pyongyang's Provocation Paradox The annual U. S. South Korean military drills are set to begin on Monday, prompting North Korea to threaten self defense and accuse its adversaries of aggression.
The latest statement from Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry characterizes the exercises as "a rehearsal for an aggressive war," implying that Seoul and Washington are preparing for a conflict with the isolated nation.
This narrative is familiar in international relations, where North Korea has used military drills by its adversaries to justify provocative actions, including nuclear tests and missile launches.