North Korea warned Friday that it would exercise its right to self-defense "more intensively" as it condemned recent joint air drills among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

The United States warned on Wednesday that North Korea is benefiting from its troops fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, gaining experience that makes Pyongyang "more capable of waging war against its neighbors.

North Korea’s foreign ministry issued a statement soon after U.S., South Korea and Japan held a joint military drill. Pyongyang condemned the drill and said it will respond by exercising right to self-defence more intensely.