The U.S. and South Korea will kick off annual joint military drills on Monday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), with the exercises to continue for nine days.

The drills follow statements from top North Korean officials Kim Yo Jong and Kim Yong Chol in recent weeks denouncing the joint training and threatening countermeasures, including the development of nuclear weapons.

“The Korea-U.S. alliance decided to conduct a nine-day joint command post training from Aug. 16, considering conditions such as the coronavirus situation, maintaining a joint defense posture and supporting diplomatic