Pyongyang condemns South Korea’s decision to hold joint military drills with US

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Yo-jong, has criticized South Korea and the US for conducting joint military exercises, Report informs referring to AFP.

But Kim Yo-jong said the South was “treacherous” for holding “dangerous” joint military drills with Washington this month, which the North has long considered rehearsals for invasion.

“I take this opportunity to express my strong regret for the treacherous treatment of the South Korean authorities,” she said in a statement released by Pyongyang’s official KCNA news agency.

Kim’s statement came as the US and South Korean militaries began their preliminary training Tuesday in the run-up to next week’s yearly summertime exercise.

By carrying out the drills, Seoul and Washington would “surely face greater security threats,” she said, and the North would strengthen its defense and pre-emptive strike capabilities.

Seoul and Washington are treaty allies, with the US stationing around 28,500 troops in the South to defend it against its nuclear-armed neighbor.