By Micah Jonah, March 10, 2026
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has criticized the US and South Korea for “destroying the stability” of East Asia as they begin the 10-day Freedom Shield military exercises on the Korean Peninsula.
She warned of “unimaginably terrible consequences” and said any attempt to test North Korea’s “patience, will, and capability” would be met with close scrutiny.
The exercises, starting Monday, involve 18,000 US and South Korean troops and 22 field drills fewer than last year and are aimed at strengthening allied response capabilities.
Kim argued that the drills are confrontational, regardless of their claimed defensive purpose, and referenced ongoing global conflicts, including the US-Israel war on Iran, as context for heightened tensions.
South Korea noted that her remarks were relatively muted compared to typical North Korean rhetoric, with no explicit nuclear threats issued.
