Kim Yo Jong Warns of ‘Terrible Consequences’ Over US-South Korea Military Drills
SEOUL – The powerful sister of North Korea’s leader warned of “terrible consequences” on March 10 over annual South Korea-US military drills, weeks after Pyongyang dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul.
Freedom Shield Exercises and North Korean Response
Seoul and Washington kicked off their springtime military drills, “Freedom Shield,” on March 9, which will involve approximately 18,000 South Korean troops and continue until March 19. The number of U.S. Troops participating has not been disclosed [UPI]. North Korea, which initiated the Korean War in 1950, has consistently characterized these exercises as preparations for invasion.
Kim Yo Jong’s Statement
Kim Yo Jong, a close confidante of her brother Kim Jong Un, stated that the joint drills “may cause unimaginably terrible consequences,” according to Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency [UPI]. She was recently promoted to head the North Korean ruling party’s general affairs department, a position comparable to a party secretary-general [Korea JoongAng Daily].
Recent Diplomatic Tensions
Her comments followed her brother’s recent dismissal of Seoul’s peace efforts as a “clumsy deceptive farce” and his assertion that North Korea has “absolutely no business dealing with South Korea.”
Global Security Concerns
Kim Yo Jong further stated that the drills are occurring at “a critical time when global security structure is collapsing rapidly and wars break out in different parts of the world,” attributing this situation to “the reckless acts of the outrageous international rogues” [Korea JoongAng Daily]. Pyongyang has condemned the U.S. And Israeli actions against Iran as an “illegal act of aggression,” citing it as evidence of the United States’ “rogue” nature.
US-North Korea Relations
Despite a history of antagonism, the United States has been attempting to re-establish high-level talks with North Korea in recent months. There have been suggestions that a potential summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un could occur in 2026 [AP News]. Kim Jong Un indicated in January that relations could improve if Washington acknowledged Pyongyang’s nuclear status.