North Korea’s Kim Jong Un’s Sister Warns of More Military Drills after US Pact with South Korea
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, recently warned of more military drills following the US and South Korea’s key agreement (Sky News). Her comments came in response to US President Joe Biden’s statement that an attack on the US or its allies would have severe consequences. Moreover, Kim Yo Jong further criticized President Biden, calling him in “his dotage” (The Guardian).
The tension comes amid North Korea’s increased missile testing activities, with Kim Jong Un’s regime launching more missiles in the past year than before (The Washington Post). North Korea has successfully tested a solid-fueled ICBM, a type of missile that can be launched more quickly than its current ones (NPR). Furthermore, North Korea announced that it had tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), warning of “extreme” horror (Reuters).
The US and South Korea have enhanced their nuclear cooperation, with President Biden warning Pyongyang that an attack would end the regime (The Guardian). In the same vein, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has addressed the US Congress (Fox News). Kim Jong Un’s sister, meanwhile, claimed that the renewed US-Seoul defense agreement threatens regional peace and added that Biden should be prepared for “far more serious danger” (DW).
Although US relations with South Korea are at an all-time high, relations with North Korea couldn’t be worse, according to Foreign Policy. North Korea’s statements and actions indicate that the US needs urgently to open a dialogue with the isolated nation to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region.
