Seoul, November 05, 2026 : South Korea has rejected Russia's criticism of its joint military exercises with the United States, maintaining that the drills are defensive in nature and intended to support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The response came after a spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Seoul and Washington of conducting exercises to rehearse preemptive strikes against North Korea, including the use of nuclear weapons. The Russian official also called on South Korea to respect what Moscow described as Pyongyang's sovereign right to ensure its security.
In a statement reported by Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the annual joint exercises were designed to maintain a strong combined defence posture in response to North Korea's developing nuclear and missile capabilities.
The ministry added that the drills contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across Northeast Asia.
South Korea and the United States conduct joint military activities throughout the year, including regular large-scale exercises and field training drills.
Source: QNA
