Politics · Singapore Bureau
North Korea attacks South's response to US military drill changes
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has accused South Korean President Lee Jae Myung of duplicity over his reaction to adjustments in joint military exercises with the United States.
LSN Singapore ·
Pyongyang lashed out at Seoul on Thursday through Kim Yo Jong, who characterized the South Korean president's comments as "double-dealing remarks" that revealed underlying anxiety and impatience, according to state media KCNA.
The rebuke centers on Lee's response to Washington's decision to scale back joint drills conducted with South Korea, a longstanding source of tension on the Korean peninsula. North Korea has historically viewed such military exercises as provocative rehearsals for invasion.
Kim Yo Jong's statement reflects Pyongyang's sensitivity to any signals it perceives as inconsistency in Seoul's approach to military cooperation with the United States. The North Korean leadership has previously used public criticism of South Korean officials as a tool to pressure the Seoul government on diplomatic matters.
The timing of the accusation underscores ongoing volatility in inter-Korean relations, as regional tensions remain elevated over North Korea's weapons development programs and military capabilities. South Korea's handling of balancing its alliance with the United States while managing relations with the North continues to draw scrutiny from Pyongyang.