N.Korean leader's sister warns Seoul against military drill with Washington

[discocrisco01]

Source: Reuters

SEOUL, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said on Sunday that if South Korea carries out a planned joint military exercise with the United States it will damage the resolve of the two Koreas to rebuild relations, state media KCNA reported.

Kim Yo Jong also said a recent decision to restore hotlines between the two Koreas should not be seen as anything more than reconnecting "physical" ties, and that it would be "thoughtless" to assume that summits are around the corner. read more

Her comments come at a time when North and South Korea are in talks to hold a summit as part of efforts to restore relations. Washington and Seoul are due to hold a joint military drill later in August. read more

"Our government and military will keep a close eye on whether the South Koreans go ahead with the aggressive war exercises, or make a big decision. Hope or despair? That's not up to us," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by KCNA.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkorean-leaders-sister-warns-seoul-against-military-drill-with-washington-2021-08-01/?rpc=401&

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

1. Interesting that it was Kim Yo Jong making this statement.

Usually, it is a spokesperson with the KCNA doing this.

North Korea is right back to their bullying, saber-rattling ways. I am wondering if they are angling to try to get food, fuel oil or other needed supplies out of this as they have done in the past.

[rickyhall]

2. Yup, Kim Trump is still there.

[Marthe48]

3. Pres. Biden won't betray our allies

turn the page, NK despots, your guy is gone.

[Midnight Writer]

4. So the drills will have a negative effect on the restored relations that she denies exists?

She could come over here and be elected to a Red State Governorship. She has the makings of a Right Wing darling.

[HUAJIAO]

5. Why do the leaders of communist countries always sound so stupid, silly and dangerous ??

[soryang]

6. the Reuters article doesn't discuss the scope or scale of planned exercises.

This is a major issue that is pending. The statement by Kim Yo-jong states clearly the scope and scale of exercises as not having been discussed. This indicates to me that this is the issue. If there are large physical movements of forces in contrast to a headquarters type command post exercise that would be a something to which they may respond to negatively.

Obviously, the US wants the actual physical operations rather than a simulation. In fact, further delays in wartime OPCON transfer to South Korea would be the natural result according to repeated US statements. I find the OPCON transfer issue somewhat chimerical. South Korea will never achieve a capability for the South Korean military command to deter or defend against nuclear attack from North Korea. But I have read USFK public statements discussing it in these very terms.