North Korea ridicules South as ‘puppet army’ of US over canceled military drills

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, harshly criticized South Korea and its President Lee Jae Myung following the abrupt cancellation of joint US-South Korea military drills by US President Donald Trump. She accused South Korea of being a "servant" of the United States in a statement on the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea's leader claimed that the South Korean government "could not let out a single word of protest" against Trump's unilateral decision to shorten the drills, which now run for just five days. Kim also lambasted President Lee Jae Myung's attempts to curry favor with the US, noting his "shameless words" praising Trump's decision while simultaneously emphasizing South Korea's need for "independent national defense and the buildup of military capabilities."

Kim argued that South Korea's boasting about its self-defense capabilities is "anachronistic" and that the country's security is now "placed at stake due to a reduction of the joint military drill." She concluded that South Korea's actions have led to its own downfall, stating "The ROK has reaped what it sowed."