DPRK Warns of Strong Retaliation Against US-Japan-South Korea Drills

North Korea's defense minister threatened 'strong and proportional' retaliation if the US and allies provoke confrontation, in response to joint US-Japan-South Korea military exercises. This is a continuation of Pyongyang's standard escalation rhetoric, though the explicit 'position of strength' framing signals heightened assertiveness. The threat is unverified and likely rhetorical, but raises the risk of provocative actions such as missile tests.