Trump blinked first, Kim yawns: Pyongyang rejects him with contempt
Against the backdrop of Donald Trump's attempts to get closer to Kim Jong Un and the reduction of exercises with Seoul, the answer comes from Pyongyang: the leader's sister rejects the American gesture with contempt and denies any connection with Washington.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister and influential advisor to the leader of North Korea, on Wednesday rejected with contempt the sudden decision of US President Donald Trump to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. According to her, the American attempt at rapprochement "does not arouse any interest in us."
According to a report in the "New York Times", Kim, who serves as an official spokesperson for the administration of her brother Kim Jong Un, published the statement through state media in Pyongyang:
"If the United States thinks it can market its latest move as 'goodwill', it will not receive the desired answer."
She added that despite the cut, the exercises remain "provocative and aggressive." In addition, Kim Yo Jong denied any connection between the countries, and claimed that she is not "aware" of any communication between Pyongyang and Washington. The remarks directly contradict Trump's claim earlier this week that Kim Jong Un had responded to his overtures. Despite the firm denial, Trump stated on Wednesday that he expects to meet with the North Korean leader later this year.
The North Korean response comes a day after the Pentagon announced the early conclusion of the planned exercises with Seoul, a week before the original date. Last Sunday, Trump ordered the Department of Defense to reduce the "Ulchi Freedom Shield" exercise that was supposed to last 11 days. The United States' allies in the region view the annual exercises as a vital component for military readiness and deterrence, especially in light of China's territorial ambitions and North Korea's military buildup. Under Kim's rule, Pyongyang has intensified its weapons program and is now considered a de facto nuclear power.
In the background of the tension on the Korean Peninsula is also the Trump administration's inability to extract the United States from the war in Iran, which has now entered its sixth month. The "New York Times" noted that the president's decision to reduce the military exercises is perceived as a punitive move against South Korea, which refused to join the military campaign against Tehran. Trump, it seems, is eager to move on from the conflict in the Middle East and refocus on contacts with Kim Jong Un.
Trump's attempts at rapprochement are not met with opposition from his South Korean counterpart, President Lee Jae-myung. Lee, a staunch supporter of reconciliation between the Koreas, urged Trump to ease tensions through direct talks. However, North Korea continues to view the joint exercises as a major obstacle to any such attempt, and defines them repeatedly as a "dress rehearsal for a war of aggression."
