Kim Yo-jong Condemns US-Led Pacific Exercises, Warns of Strong Response
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Kim Yo-jong (金與正), sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, has issued her latest statement condemning the US-led multinational military exercise Pacific Vanguard 2026, criticizing South Korea, Japan and other regional countries for their participation, and implying that North Korea will respond forcefully . Her remarks came just one day after she issued a stern statement mocking those who hope North Korea will abandon its nuclear program, asserting that the country's status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible and cannot be changed by any means .
Key Points
- Kim Yo-jong described Pacific Vanguard 2026 as another war game manufactured by the United States to create bloc confrontation in the region
- The exercise is led by the US Navy's 7th Fleet and has been held annually since 2019
- This year's exercises began on August 30, involving naval forces from South Korea, the US, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada
- Kim Yo-jong warned that the level of hostility toward North Korea has reached unprecedented levels
- She stated North Korea will employ every available means if it believes national interests, military sovereignty and regional security are seriously threatened
- The exercise is widely viewed as containing and deterring China
Why It Matters
Kim Yo-jong's warnings signal a potential escalation in North Korea's provocative actions, as her statements suggest Pyongyang may conduct missile tests or other military demonstrations in response to perceived threats from the US-led alliance . The timing of her remarks, following her assertion that North Korea's nuclear status is irreversible, indicates that diplomatic efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula face significant obstacles.
Kim Yo-jong's warnings signal a potential escalation in North Korea's provocative actions, as her statements suggest Pyongyang may conduct missile tests or other military demonstrations in response to perceived threats from the US-led alliance . The timing of her remarks, following her assertion that North Korea's nuclear status is irreversible, indicates that diplomatic efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula face significant obstacles.