Photo courtesy of Anadolu
South Korea on Friday called on North Korea to stop attacking its government after Pyongyang mocked Seoul over the early conclusion of joint military exercises with the United States.
The South Korean presidential office said hostile rhetoric directed at President Lee Jae Myung and his administration could undermine efforts to rebuild trust and pursue peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
Seoul issued the response after Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticized the South over changes to the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises.
US President Donald Trump had ordered the Pentagon to reduce the drills from 11 days to five, with the exercises set to end Friday. Trump cited his relationship with Kim in explaining the decision.
Kim Yo-jong acknowledged that her brother maintained strong personal ties with Trump but argued that Washington had yet to fundamentally change what Pyongyang considers a hostile approach toward North Korea.
She also criticized Lee for welcoming the shortened exercises while pursuing stronger defense capabilities and greater military autonomy from Washington.
Lee has supported South Korea taking back wartime operational control from the United States by 2030. His office maintained that Seoul would continue working closely with Washington while seeking to help restart talks between the US and North Korea.
The diplomatic exchange followed North Korea’s launch of at least 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward waters east of the Korean Peninsula while the joint exercises were underway.