Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned that joint military exercises by the US, South Korea and Japan could have negative consequences for them, state news agency KCNA reported today, quoted by Reuters.
South Korea, Japan and the United States begin their annual defense maneuvers, called Freedom Edge, on September 15 (Freedom Edge), which will enhance their air, sea and cyber operational capabilities against nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, the South Korean armed forces announced.
"This reminds us that reckless displays of force by the United States, Japan and South Korea in the wrong places, and specifically around the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will undoubtedly have negative consequences for themselves, said Kim Yo-jong, quoted by the KCNA.
South Korea and the United States are also planning the "Iron Mace" command and staff exercises next week (Iron Mace) to practice the synergy between its conventional and nuclear capabilities against North Korean threats, South Korean local media reported.
If hostile forces continue to demonstrate their power through these joint exercises, North Korea will take more tangible and decisive countermeasures, senior North Korean party official Pak Jong-chong said in a separate statement quoted by the KCNA.
Pyongyang regularly criticizes these joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion and in some cases responds with weapons tests. Seoul and Washington, however, say the maneuvers are purely defensive in nature.