Kim Jong Un
The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized the United States and South Korea on Tuesday for moving forward with their annual joint military drills during a precarious time for global security, cautioning that any threat to the North’s safety would result in “terrible consequences.”
Kim Yo Jong’s statement followed the launch of the allies’ 11-day Freedom Shield exercise involving thousands of troops, occurring as Washington engages in an intensifying conflict in the Middle East.
Whilst not explicitly mentioning the Iran war, Kim said the U.S.-South Korea exercises undermine regional stability during a period when the global security framework is “collapsing rapidly and wars break out in different parts of the world due to the reckless acts of outrageous international rogues.”
North Korea has a history of interpreting the joint military exercises between its allies as rehearsals for invasion (Image: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Freedom Shield represents one of two annual command post exercises carried out by the militaries of the United States and South Korea. The predominantly computer-simulated drills aim to evaluate the allies’ joint operational readiness, incorporating evolving combat scenarios and security threats.
Freedom Shield will run alongside a field training program known as Warrior Shield.
Referencing the country’s growing nuclear arsenal, Kim Yo Jong stated that North Korea will continue strengthening its “destructive power” against perceived external threats and “constantly and repeatedly convince the enemies of our war deterrence and its fatality.”
Kim Yo Jong’s statement followed the launch of the allies’ 11-day Freedom Shield exercise (Image: Getty)
North Korea has a history of interpreting the joint military exercises between its allies as rehearsals for invasion, often using them as justification to escalate their own military displays or weapons tests. The allies maintain that these exercises are purely defensive.
In related news, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung confirmed potential relocation of some U.S. “air defense weapons” based in South Korea, but assured that such moves wouldn’t significantly weaken defenses against North Korea. This follows media speculation about the United States shifting some Patriot missile defense systems and other equipment from South Korea to aid operations in the Middle East.
“Our government has expressed opposition to such moves, but it’s also an undeniable reality that we cannot fully control the situation according to our wishes,” Lee stated during a Cabinet meeting.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry labeled the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran as an “illegal act of aggression (Image: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Just last week, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry labeled the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran as an “illegal act of aggression” executed under the guise of “fake peace.”
With diplomatic relations with Washington and Seoul at a standstill for years, Kim Jong Un is increasingly shaping his foreign policy around the concept of a new Cold War. He’s strengthening ties with Moscow and Beijing, whilst casting Pyongyang as part of a united front against Washington.
Pyongyang and Tehran rank among the handful of governments backing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale war in Ukraine, with both nations accused of providing Russia with military hardware. Beyond ammunition and missiles, North Korea has also deployed thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces.
In a separate development, South Korea’s Unification Ministry reported that train services between Pyongyang and Beijing are expected to restart this week for the first time in six years, having been halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Korea and China had already reestablished rail operations between border towns, primarily for trade purposes, after the North started relaxing border restrictions in 2022. It’s uncertain whether the restored services between their capitals will lead to greater exchanges, including tourism in North Korea.
Whilst making Russia a foreign policy priority, Kim has also worked to bolster relations with China, the North’s longstanding primary ally and economic supporter. He visited Beijing last September and conducted his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.
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