- President Trump ordered a substantial reduction in U.S. participation in joint drills with South Korea, stating he wanted to revive diplomacy with Kim Jong Un.
- Trump said on Monday he had received a response from Kim Jong Un after the drills reduction.
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung praised Trump's move on X, recognizing his 'will and efforts to create conditions for dialogue'.
- Kim Yo Jong on Wednesday stated she was unaware of recent communications between leaders and that U.S. 'hostile policy' had not changed.
- Kim Yo Jong on Thursday called South Korea's description of the drills reduction 'nothing but a lame excuse' and referred to Lee's reaction as 'double-dealing remarks'.
North Korea's Kim Yo Jong condemned South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for his 'double-dealing remarks' regarding the U.S. decision to reduce joint military drills, which she claims are a facade of goodwill.
Lee praised the move as a step towards dialogue, stating on X that it reflects Trump's 'will and efforts to create conditions for dialogue' with North Korea.
However, Kim Yo Jong dismissed this characterization, asserting that the U.S. continues its 'hostile policy' towards North Korea. She stated, “If the U.S. calculates that it can propagate its recent measure as the one of so-called good faith, they will not get [their] desired answer.”
The reduction of military drills, ordered by Trump, aims to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, but experts warn it could undermine U.S. security commitments.
Lieutenant General Chun In-Bum expressed concern that scaling back exercises while North Korean troops gain combat experience in Ukraine creates a 'dangerous operational disconnect.'
Lami Kim from the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted that this move significantly undermines the credibility of U.S. security commitments at a time of low confidence.
Despite the reduction, Kim Yo Jong emphasized that North Korea remains skeptical of U.S. intentions, stating, “We are correctly seeing through the fact that this is an obvious expression of open hostility.”
“Kim Yo Jong also dismissed Seoul's description of the reduction as 'nothing but a lame excuse,' while Trump said Monday he received a response from Kim Jong Un after the drills cut. The joint exercises were set to end Friday.”
CNBC
