Pyongyang, North Korea – Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned that joint military exercises between the United States, South Korea and Japan could lead to “negative repercussions” for the three countries, state media reported on Sunday.
The South Korean military said that South Korea, Japan and the United States will conduct annual defense exercises called “Edge of Freedom”.
These maneuvers begin on September 15.
It aims to upgrade air, naval and electronic operational capabilities against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
“This reminds us that the reckless show of force shown by the United States, Japan, and South Korea in the wrong places, around the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, will undoubtedly have negative repercussions for them,” Kim was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency.
Local media in South Korea reported that Seoul and Washington also intend to organize the “Iron Scepter” exercises this week.
It is a simulation of integrating the two countries’ conventional and nuclear capabilities against North Korean threats.
Pyongyang has repeatedly criticized these joint exercises, considering them invasion exercises.
As usual, it sometimes responded with weapons tests, but Seoul and Washington say the military exercises are purely defensive.
