Kim Yo-jong, director of the General Affairs Department of North Korea's Workers' Party Central Committee, issued a critical statement just one day after the start of U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, warning that "military demonstrations by hostile forces could bring about terrible consequences."
Analysts suggest the statement aims to strengthen regime solidarity following the 9th Party Congress by framing the joint drills as a "preemptive war attempt" amid the recent Middle East conflict. Notably, Kim appeared to refrain from direct criticism of the United States, seemingly mindful of the uncertain international situation.
In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on the 10th, Kim warned, "We will firmly manage strategic threats to national and regional security through the exercise of destructive power and deterrence, including available special means."
Kim stated, "The exercises being conducted frantically day and night across all of South Korea with nearly 18,000 troops from both countries are not 'military games' but aggressive war demonstrations." She added, "Though the enemies put up signs saying 'annual' and 'defensive,' the nature as large-scale war exercises conducted by the most hostile entities colluding at our doorstep does not change in the slightest."
Kim also referenced recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran, stating, "At this grave moment when the global security framework is collapsing due to the reckless actions of tyrannical international gangsters, the U.S.-South Korea war exercises being forced through in South Korea will further destroy regional stability."
She emphasized, "In light of recent global geopolitical crises and various international incidents, there is no distinction between defense and offense, or between exercises and actual combat, in the military provocations committed by adversary nations. They must be subdued not with proportional or reciprocal responses, but with extraordinarily overwhelming and preemptive super-strong offensives."
U.S. and South Korean military authorities began the "Freedom Shield" exercises on the 9th to prepare for contingencies on the Korean Peninsula. This year's participating force numbers approximately 18,000 troops, similar to last year. However, field training exercises involving actual troop movements are scheduled for 22 sessions total—less than half of the 51 sessions conducted during last March's Freedom Shield exercises.
Yang Moo-jin, chair professor at the University of North Korean Studies, analyzed Kim's statement: "Given recent war patterns including America's unilateral preemptive strikes, she highlighted that U.S.-South Korea joint exercises are not defensive and routine but attempts at preemptive war. This is intended to strengthen regime solidarity after the 9th Party Congress by expressing a principled stance on external threats alongside anxiety about the outbreak of war with Iran."
Hong Min, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, explained, "While issuing a routine statement in response to U.S.-South Korea joint exercises, she refrained from directly criticizing the United States—such as naming it directly—considering the uncertainty of the U.S.-driven situation and the April U.S.-China summit."
This statement is Kim's first since being elected as General Affairs Department director at the recent 9th Party Congress, suggesting she will continue her role overseeing policies toward South Korea and the United States.
