North Korea today condemned the recent joint military exercises conducted by US, South Korean and Japanese forces, warning that it will take immediate action if necessary to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Last week, armed forces of the three countries conducted a three-day exercise, dubbed “Freedom Edge,” involving fighter jets and naval cooperation aircraft, as well as the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

“We sternly warn the US and its proxies hostile to the DPRK (Democratic Republic of Korea) to immediately cease hostile actions that create further provocations and destabilization, which can lead the military confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding area to actual armed conflict,” North Korea’s defense ministry said in a statement.

North Korea’s armed forces keep all options available and will take immediate action if necessary to proactively manage the risk, closely monitoring the military activity of the US and its allies, the same statement carried by the North Korean news agency (KCNA) said. .