North Korea vows nuclear buildup despite US-led military exercises

SEOUL — North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, a key policy figure and sister of leader Kim Jong Un, has criticised US-led military exercises as a driver of heightened instability on the Korean Peninsula, according to statements released on Friday.

Kim Yo Jong said the joint drills were causing "ever-worsening" tensions and accused Washington of aggravating security concerns in the region. She reaffirmed Pyongyang's determination to pursue its nuclear weapons development programme, signalling no shift in the country's strategic priorities.

The rebuke comes as the United States and South Korea have conducted a series of joint military exercises in recent months. Pyongyang has consistently characterised such drills as rehearsals for invasion, using them to justify its weapons development efforts.

Kim Yo Jong's statement reflects the regime's standard response to international pressure over its nuclear programme. As one of Kim Jong Un's closest advisers, her public statements typically reflect official government policy and are closely monitored by analysts tracking North Korea's diplomatic and military posture.

The latest warning highlights the persistent security tensions on the Korean Peninsula, where diplomatic efforts have stalled in recent years amid mutual accusations between Pyongyang and Washington.