North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, has warned that planned military drills between South Korea and the United States may adversely affect relations between the two Koreas.
Her comments came just days after the two countries reopened communications after severing ties last year. The two Koreas have yet to sign a truce following the cessation of hostilities at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
Rehearsal for War?
“For some days I have been hearing an unpleasant story that joint military exercises between the South Korean army and the US forces could go ahead as scheduled,” Kim Yo-jong said.
“I view this as an undesirable prelude which seriously undermines the will of the top leaders of the North and the South wishing to see a step taken toward restoring mutual trust and which further beclouds the way ahead of the North-South relations.”
She added that North Korea will keep a close eye on the activities, as she believes that the drills are “hostile war exercises.”
US-South Korea Drills
South Korea earlier this week clarified that no final decisions concerning the joint military exercises had been made yet, and that the drills should not create tension with the North.
Joint military exercises between South Korea and the US take place regularly, usually during spring or summer. While the South states that the drills are only defensive in nature, North Korea sees the activities as a rehearsal for war. As a response, North Korea usually conducts missile tests around the same time.