Kim Yo Jong condemned the joint U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" exercises as a "provocative and aggressive war rehearsal" that will undermine regional stability, KCNA reported. The drills, held March 9–19, involve more than 18,000 U.S. and South Korean personnel and span land, sea, air, outer space and cyberspace. Seoul and Washington say the exercises are defensive and include nuclear deterrence scenarios while helping prepare for the transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea.
Kim Yo Jong Warns US‑South Korea 'Freedom Shield' Drills Will Harm Regional Stability
FILE PHOTO: Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attends wreath laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam March 2, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/Pool/File Photo
SEOUL, March 10 — Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, told state media KCNA that the joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises that began this week are a "provocative and aggressive war rehearsal" that will damage regional stability.
In a statement carried by KCNA, Kim said the annual Freedom Shield drills exposed the allies' "habitual hostile policy" toward North Korea and warned they "will further destroy regional stability." She said the manoeuvres involve more than 18,000 South Korean and U.S. personnel and are being staged "day and night across the territorial ground, sea, air, outer space and cyberspace" of the Korean Peninsula.
"Provocative and aggressive war rehearsal," KCNA quoted Kim Yo Jong as saying.
Seoul and Washington have defended the exercises, which run from March 9 to 19, saying they are "defensive in nature" and include deterrence scenarios linked to North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Officials from both countries added that the drills will also support preparations for the planned transfer of U.S. wartime operational control to South Korea.
South Korean authorities aim to complete the handover of wartime operational command before President Lee Jae Myung's term ends in 2030. The exercises follow comments by Kim Jong Un at North Korea's ruling Party Congress last month in which he pledged to focus on expanding the country's nuclear arsenal.
Reporting by Heejin Kim; editing by Ed Davies.
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