South Korea and the United States regularly conduct joint military exercises.
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's ruler Kim, now wants to prevent this.
Pyongyang / Seoul - For a long time there was radio silence between South and North Korea.
The communication channels between the countries were only reopened last Tuesday (July 27).
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un, used this to warn South Korea of a planned military maneuver with the USA.
She regards such exercises as "undesirable foreplay" that would undermine the will of the leaders of South and North Korea to restore mutual trust, said Kim Yo Jong on Sunday (August 1st).
It would also "cloud the way forward in inter-Korean relations," the
dpa
quotes the
North Korean state media.
Kim Yo Jong warns South Korea and the USA: Seoul should be put under pressure
South Korea sees Kim Yo Jong's statement as an attempt to pressure Seoul into canceling the military exercise. When and to what extent this year's summer maneuver, which normally begins in August, could take place is still unclear, according to South Korea. Seoul has already significantly reduced the number of exercises in the past. South Korean politicians fear that these could run counter to efforts to re-negotiate with Pyongyang on its nuclear weapons program.
Seoul and Washington are close allies.
The US has around 28,500 soldiers stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea, which is armed with nuclear weapons.
The armed forces of both countries regularly carry out joint maneuvers.
The communist leadership in Pyongyang sees these exercises as preparation for an attack, an accusation that Washington and Seoul deny.
Kim Yo Jong contradicts speculation: inter-Korean summit not planned
Kim Yo Jong also spoke about the opening of the communication lines.
This should not be understood otherwise than "a physical reconnection," she explained.
The resulting speculation about a new inter-Korean summit is premature.
(mhof / dpa / afp)
List of rubric lists: © Jorge Silva
