North Korea has warned the United States, South Korea and Japan of “strong and reflective countermeasures” over their ongoing Freedom Edge military exercise.

The five-day trilateral drill began on September 7 and will run through September 11 in international waters east and south of Jeju Island, involving maritime, aviation and air-defense scenarios.

In a statement carried by North Korean state media late on September 7, Defense Minister Kim Song-gi warned that Pyongyang would respond with “more powerful and resolute” action if the U.S. and its allies attempt a new military confrontation.

Pyongyang also objected to the U.S.-Japan-Australia Orient Shield exercise beginning September 8, as well as plans to deploy a U.S. Army Multi-Domain Task Force to South Korea later this year.

We warn against the escalating war crimes perpetrated by the occupation government and its army, and against the repercussions of its announcement of a large-scale military operation in the Shuafat refugee camp and the town of Anata, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. This operation has been accompanied by a complete siege, the closure of entrances, the destruction of infrastructure, and widespread arrests of Palestinian civilians.

The city of Jerusalem, its towns, and its refugee camps will remain purely Palestinian. The occupation's attempts to isolate, Judaize, and impose its control over them will be shattered by the steadfastness, will, and resilience of its people on their land. The occupation's war machine will not succeed in implementing its settlement plans and projects. Our people will remain steadfast and committed to their land and rights until the aggression is defeated and the occupation ends.

We call upon the nations of the world, both officially and at the popular level, to take broad and effective action to pressure the occupation to halt its aggression, hold its leaders accountable for their crimes, and provide all forms of support and assistance to our people in the face of the escalating occupation aggression.