U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Friday that its joint military exercises with South Korean troops are designed to prevent conflict, rather than provoke North Korea, in response to state media’s criticism characterizing the drills as “reckless military maneuvers.” 

“Our training events are transparent and focused on deterrence, defense, and the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the region,” the command said in a statement. “We maintain a strictly defensive posture, and our exercises are designed to prevent conflict, not provoke it.”

USFK’s statement comes hours after Pyongyang criticized Washington’s recent military activities, including the