Seoul:South Korea has dismissed Russia's criticism regarding its joint military exercises with the United States, asserting that these drills are defensive and aimed at ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

According to Qatar News Agency, South Korea's foreign ministry issued a statement countering claims made by a spokesperson from Russia's foreign ministry. The Russian official alleged that the South Korea-US exercises are intended "to rehearse preemptive strikes" against North Korea, including the use of nuclear weapons, and called on Seoul to respect Pyongyang's right to ensure its security.

The statement from South Korea's foreign ministry emphasized that the joint exercises are conducted annually to maintain a strong defense posture in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities. It further noted that these exercises contribute to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also across Northeast Asia.

South Korea and the United States regularly conduct joint military exercises throughout the year, which include large-scale exercises and field training drills.