North Korean leaders sister warns against US joint drills

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FILE PHOTO: Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un, arrives at the Vostochny Сosmodrome before a meeting of Russias President Vladimir Putin with North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un, in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023. Sputnik/Vladimir Smirnov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

SEOUL - Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un, warned joint military exercises of U.S., South Korea and Japan could bring about negative consequences for themselves, state media reported on Sunday.

South Korea, Japan and the U.S. will conduct annual defensive drills called the Freedom Edge starting on September 15 to upgrade aerial, naval and cyber operational capabilities against North Koreas nuclear and missile threats, South Koreas military has said.

This reminds us that the reckless display of power displayed by the U.S., Japan, and South Korea in the wrong places, namely around the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, will undoubtedly bring about negative consequences for themselves, Kim said via state KCNA news agency, using North Koreas official name.

South Korea and the United States also plan to stage the Iron Mace tabletop exercises next week on integrating their conventional and nuclear capabilities against North Koreas threats, South Korean local media reported.

If hostile forces continue to boast about their power through those joint drills, North Korea will take countermeasures more clearly and strongly, North Koreas