Desperate To Hold Military Exercises, Kim Jong-un's Brother: US And South Korea Will Face More Serious Security Threats

JAKARTA - South Korea and the United States (US) will face an even greater threat if they continue with joint military exercises scheduled to take place this week.

This threat was issued directly by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Monday, in relation to plans for military exercises between the two allies, which Pyongyang has long condemned.

If there are no obstacles, South Korea and the United States will begin initial military exercises this Tuesday, Yonhap news agency reported on Monday, although North Korea warned the exercises would hinder progress in improving inter-Korean relations.

"The exercise is an unwanted and self-destructive act that threatens the North Korean people, increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula," Kim Yo-jong said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.

"The United States and South Korea will face a more serious security threat by ignoring our repeated warnings to continue dangerous war games," said Kim Jong-un's brother.

He accused South Korea of "dangerous behavior" for resuming exercises shortly after the hotline between Pyongyang and Seoul was reconnected in an attempt to defuse tensions.

North Korea's reaction to the drills threatens to derail South Korean President Moon Jae-in's efforts to reopen the joint liaison office Pyongyang blew up last year and hold a summit as part of efforts to restore ties.

Separately, South Korea's Ministry of Defense on Monday revealed that the time, scale and formation of the exercise had not been finalized. Meanwhile, the US Korean military declined to comment, citing its policy.

To note, the United States has approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace accord, leaving the peninsula in a state of technical war.

The two countries' regular military drills have been scaled down in recent years to facilitate talks aimed at dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs in exchange for relief from US sanctions.

But negotiations broke down in 2019, and while North Korea and the United States said they were open to diplomacy, both also said it was up to the other side to take action.

Earlier, Kim Jong-un said the US military's actions showed Washington's talk of diplomacy was a hypocritical cover for aggression on the peninsula. Peace will only be possible if the United States dismantles its military power in South Korea.

"North Korea will increase its 'absolute deterrence', including a strong pre-emptive strike capability, to counter the growing US military threat," Kim said.

"The reality has proven that only practical deterrence, not words, can guarantee the peace and security of the Korean peninsula, and it is imperative for us to build up our strength to withstand external threats strongly," Kim said.