SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea stated on Wednesday that the U.S. decision to reduce military exercises with South Korea does not alter its view of the drills as provocative. This response came from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as the U.S. and South Korea confirmed the scaling back of their annual military drills. Kim Yo Jong remarked, "We think it’s not worth making comments on that and we have no interest in it at all," emphasizing that the nature of the drills remains aggressive despite their reduction in size and duration.
She also referenced other military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea earlier in the year, as well as South Korea's efforts to introduce nuclear-powered submarines. Kim Yo Jong denied any current communications between Trump and Kim, despite Trump stating earlier that Kim had responded to his request for a conversation.
Kim Yo Jong's statement lacked the usual harsh rhetoric from North Korea, indicating a potential attempt to manage relations with Trump while seeking greater concessions to resume talks. Trump confirmed he would meet with Kim Jong Un this year but did not disclose details about any correspondence.
The comments from Kim Yo Jong followed the announcement that the U.S. and South Korea would scale back their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which are primarily computer-simulated drills aimed at enhancing readiness against North Korean aggression. The Pentagon stated that while certain events have been canceled or converted to simulations, essential training objectives would not be compromised.
The drills are a key aspect of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, established during the Korean War, but they have long been viewed by North Korea as rehearsals for invasion. North Korea has responded to such drills with missile tests, including two ballistic missiles launched just before the current exercises began.
In a commentary published by North Korea’s state news agency, the U.S.-South Korean drills were criticized as "frantic" and "extremely dangerous." Experts suggest that Kim, bolstered by advancements in North Korea's nuclear program and military cooperation with Russia, may not be inclined to engage in talks with Trump unless significant concessions are offered. Trump claimed that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons, while some experts estimate the arsenal could exceed 100 warheads.
Additionally, South Korea's intelligence service reported that North Korea had sent troops to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, a claim Kim Yo Jong dismissed as "an ungrounded farce." South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed hope that Trump’s decision would facilitate dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula, while the main opposition party criticized the government for prioritizing diplomacy over security concerns.