North Korean Official Dismisses Reports of Scaled-Back US-South Korea Drills
A senior North Korean official, Kim Yo-jong, has dismissed reports about reduced joint US-South Korea military exercises while also disputing President Trump's claim that her brother had responded to his outreach.
Kim Yo-jong, an influential adviser and sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has commented on recent developments surrounding US-South Korea military cooperation, dismissing reports of reduced joint drills between Washington and Seoul.
At the same time, she stated she was unaware of any communication with Washington. This directly contradicts an earlier claim by President Trump that Kim Jong-un had responded to his outreach efforts.
Kim Yo-jong holds significant influence within North Korea's leadership and is frequently used as a channel to convey the country's official positions on international matters, including relations with the United States and South Korea. Her statements are generally regarded as reflecting the leadership's stance, given her close proximity to her brother.
The scale of joint US-South Korea military exercises has long been a point of contention between Pyongyang and the West, with North Korea repeatedly characterizing them as preparation for invasion, while Washington and Seoul describe them as defensive measures.
The conflicting statements about possible contact between Trump and Kim Jong-un point to continued uncertainty over the status of diplomatic dialogue between the two sides, which has remained unclear in recent times.
