Kim Yo-jong Mocks South Korea over Reduction of US-South Korea Exercises: "Seoul Left Pitiful Without Its Favorite 'War Games'"

Kim Yo-jong, Head of the Workers' Party Secretariat and sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a statement mocking South Korea over the reduction of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises following the instructions of U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on the night of August 20, Kim condemned that "Seoul has found itself in a pitiable situation, forced to halt the 'war games' it enjoyed the most, simply at the single word of Trump, who abruptly ordered the reduction of the exercises."

Kim Yo-jong, Head of the Workers' Party Secretariat

She further described this reduction in training as "an unprecedented 'abnormal event' in South Korea's history," adding, "They entrust their national defense and security to foreign powers, yet still brag that their self-defense capabilities are more than sufficient." Kim also targeted the views of South Korean authorities on security, calling them "unrealistic and anachronistic delusions" and asserted it was "a case of retribution."

Kim mocked President Lee Jaemyung, who expressed "respect" for President Trump’s decision to scale down the joint drills, describing his remarks as "duplicitous behavior, different inside and out." She further insisted that U.S. security support is no longer free of charge, and that South Korea must "recognize its subservient position" and find its own answer for survival.

The previous day, Kim had downplayed the significance of the reduction of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, but still mentioned the good relationship between Kim Jong Un and President Trump, thereby leaving open the possibility of North Korea-U.S. dialogue. In contrast, she continued hostile rhetoric toward South Korea, reaffirming the stance of treating the two countries as adversaries.

The South Korea-U.S. joint exercise "Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)" was originally scheduled to continue until August 27, but due to President Trump's order for reduction, it will end early on August 21. The exercise, which began on August 17, has been cut from the original 11 days to 5 days. This marks the first time in history that the duration and scale of the ongoing theater-level South Korea-U.S. joint drills have been reduced in this manner.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.