JAKARTA - North Korea warned on Wednesday again that South Korea and the United States are missing an opportunity to improve relations and risking a serious security crisis, choosing to escalate tensions as they conduct joint military exercises.
This statement was made by Kim Yong Chol, a general and politician who played a leading role during the historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former US President Donald Trump, criticizing South Korea and the United States for responding to Pyongyang's goodwill with hostile actions.
The remarks came a day after Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned Seoul and Washington of annual joint military drills set to begin this week.
Kim Yong Chol said Seoul chose to pass up the opportunity to improve inter-Korean relations, choosing to continue military exercises with the United States.
"South Korea should be made to understand clearly how much they have to pay to choose their alliance with Washington over peace between Koreas," he said, citing Reuters from the state news agency KCNA, Wednesday, August 11.
"We will make them realize minute by minute how dangerous the choices they are making, how serious the security crisis they will face because of their wrong choices," Kim threatened.
Separately, US President Joe Biden said it was up to Pyongyang to respond to its pledges to find practical ways to resolve the issue peacefully.
Meanwhile, North Korea has also said it is open to diplomacy, but the United States and South Korea have adhered to hostile policies, such as continuing to hold regular military exercises.
In Seoul, analysts said Pyongyang may use sharp rhetoric to increase its influence in future talks, squeeze concessions from South Korea, or distract from the domestic economic crisis.
"The Kim regime is shifting the blame for its struggle to restart the economy after a long and self-imposed pandemic lockdown," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul, South Korea.
"Pyongyang is also trying to put pressure on the South Korean presidential candidate, to reveal differences with the US policy on sanctions and denuclearization," he concluded.
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