North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Criticizes South Korea's 'Dual Personality' over US Joint Drills

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has sharply criticized South Korea and President Lee Jae Myung for what she calls a 'dual personality'—publicly advocating for peace while continuing joint military drills with the United States. These exercises, launched by South Korea and the U.S. in response to North Korea's nuclear threats, are deemed defensive by Seoul and Washington but are viewed by Pyongyang as provocative rehearsals for invasion. Despite President Lee's recent efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, including dismantling propaganda loudspeakers and implementing phased agreements, Kim Yo Jong dismissed these moves as ineffective and warned that the desired peaceful relationship will never materialize under the current approach. Her remarks echo those of Kim Jong Un, who condemned the military exercises as an outright provocation and emphasized the need for North Korea to rapidly expand its nuclear arsenal amid rising tensions. The ongoing discord highlights the deep challenges in resolving the Korean Peninsula's security and diplomatic issues.