On June 30, North Korea condemned joint military exercises by South Korea, Japan, and the US, labeling them as an “Asian version of NATO” and warning of severe consequences. The “Freedom Edge” drills, which focused on missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, and cyber training, concluded after three days. The annual exercises were agreed upon during a trilateral summit last year to counter North Korea’s nuclear threats and China’s regional influence. Pyongyang denounced the drills as provocative and an invasion rehearsal.