Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party of Korea, lambasted the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise Freedom Shield (FS) just one day after its commencement, suggesting the possibility of retaliatory military actions.
Mentions Complex International Developments, Signals Close Watch on Middle East Situation
In a statement released on Tuesday through the Korean Central News Agency, Kim declared that since Monday, hostile nations have once again demonstrated their innate aversion and habitual antagonism towards them by initiating the large-scale joint military exercise FS.
She asserted that at a time when the global security framework is rapidly disintegrating due to the reckless actions of international aggressors, the U.S.-South Korea war games conducted on the Korean peninsula will further destabilize the region, indirectly referencing the recent turmoil in the Middle East.
Kim emphasized that while the adversaries tout these drills as annual and defensive, regardless of their justifications or modifications to training elements, the unmistakably confrontational nature of these high-intensity, large-scale war exercises remains unchanged.
She specifically highlighted that the U.S. and South Korea have integrated information warfare and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into their joint exercises, enhancing both practical and provocative elements. Kim claimed this trend amplifies the risks. Moreover, she noted that in recent years, they have significantly expanded command and field training exercises (FTX) to apply and master new modern warfare doctrines and methods tailored to the Korean Peninsula, often incorporating nuclear elements.
Kim also asserted that recent global geopolitical crises and multifaceted international events demonstrate that there is no distinction between defense and offense, or between drills and actual combat in the military maneuvers conducted by hostile nations. She insisted that these actions must be countered with overwhelmingly preemptive and powerful offensives, rather than mere proportional responses.
She warned that it will closely monitor the extent to which the enemy interferes with the national security and what games they play. Kim added that it will manage strategic threats to national and regional safety with a decisive display of destructive power, including all available special means at the disposal.
Kim cautioned that military displays by hostile forces near North Korea’s sovereign safety zone could lead to unimaginably dire consequences.
The U.S. and South Korean military authorities initiated the large-scale joint exercise Freedom Shield on Monday, preparing for contingencies on the Korean Peninsula.
This year, approximately 18,000 troops will participate in the FS exercises, similar to last year’s level. However, the number of actual field training exercises (FTX) involving troop movements is scheduled for a total of 22, less than half the 51 conducted during the FS exercises last March.
Hints at Possible Military Provocation… Experts Say Tone Avoids Direct Criticism of the U.S.
Previously, Kim Jong Un stated during a report summarizing the 9th Party Congress that continuously testing and showcasing the reliability and effectiveness of the nuclear deterrent is, in itself, a responsible exercise of war deterrence. This statement suggested that North Korea might conduct frequent military provocations this year.
In this context, Kim’s mention of preemptive powerful offensives and dire consequences appears to indicate a high-intensity military response to the U.S.-South Korea joint exercises.
However, Kim refrained from disclosing specific action plans and avoided mocking or ridiculing the U.S. and South Korea, adopting a more measured tone. It remains unclear whether this reflects North Korea’s intent to manage the situation or signals a shift in its foreign policy stance.
Sung Ki-young, a senior researcher at the National Security Strategy Institute, evaluated that Kim’s statement goes a step beyond typical rhetoric, suggesting a need to consider the possibility of preemptive provocations, but the overall tone does not seem to deviate significantly from past levels.
Sung also noted that the mention of preemptive powerful offensives might be a psychological tactic aimed at inducing security anxiety in South Korea, especially given the recent redeployment of U.S. Patriot missiles due to the situation in the Middle East.
Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, observed that Kim’s statement avoided specific references to the U.S., using terms like U.S.-South Korea or hostile nations, indicating a tendency to evade direct criticism. He analyzed that since the second half of last year, North Korea has maintained a mode of restraint in its rhetoric toward the U.S.
