North Korea tells new U.S. administration to cease war games if wants to 'sleep in peace'

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attends wreath laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam March 2, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/Pool

By Josh Smith and Sangmi Cha

SEOUL (Reuters) - The sister of North Korean leader, Kim Yo Jong, criticised ongoing military drills in South Korea and warned the new U.S. administration that the smell of cordite wafting over the border would not help bring peace, state news reported on Tuesday.

Kim's statement was the North's first public message to Washington since President Joe Biden took office in January. It was delivered a day before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are due to arrive in Seoul for their first talks with South Korean counterparts.

"We take this opportunity to warn the new U.S. administration trying hard to give off powder smell in our land," Kim said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. "If it wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step."

For all the imagery of Kim's words, the joint springtime military drill begun last week was limited to computer simulations because of the coronavirus risk as well as the ongoing efforts to engage with the North.

But her message was clear.

"War drills and hostility can never go with dialogue and cooperation," Kim Yo Jong said.

When asked about Kim Yo Jong's statement, Blinken told a briefing in Tokyo that he was aware of her comments, but that he was more interested in hearing what America's allies and partners think about North Korea.

Blinken and Austin are travelling in Asia this week for foreign policy and security talks with allies in Japan and South Korea, among other stops.

The new U.S. administration is expected to wrap up a review of North Korea policy in coming weeks. And Blinken said Washington is considering whether additional pressure on North Korea could be effective.

The timing of Kim's comments seems designed to ensure that North Korea will be at the top of Blinken and Austin's agenda when they land in Seoul, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London.

"Until now, the discussion was focusing on The Quad, dealing with China and the North Korea policy review," he said. "Now Kim's statement will be central to discussions."

North Korea has so far rebuffed entreaties from the United States to engage in dialogue, the White House said on Monday, as a chill in relations that began under then-President Donald Trump has extended into Biden's presidency.

Leader Kim Jong Un had three high-profile summit meetings with Trump and exchanged a series of letters, but the nuclear-armed state ended talks and said it would not engage further unless the United States drops its hostile policies.

'SHRUNKEN WAR GAMES'

Kim Yo Jong mocked South Korea for "resorting to shrunken war games, now that they find themselves in the quagmire of political, economic and epidemic crisis."

Boo Seung-chan, a spokesman for South Korea's Ministry of Defence, said the drills were routine and defensive in nature.

"The ministry's position is that North Korea must show a flexible attitude, such as responding to dialogue, to build a lasting and solid peace on the Korean Peninsula," he told a briefing.

The inter-Korean engagement that had improved in 2018 and is sought by South Korea "won't come easily again" and North Korea will be watching to see if there is further provocations, said Kim.

She said North Korea would consider pulling out of an inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing tensions along their shared border, and would review whether to dissolve several organisations aimed at cooperation with the South.

Kim's statement, as colourful as it is, is generally consistent with past North Korean statements expressing frustrations at disparities between words and actions, said Jenny Town, director of 38 North, a U.S.-based website that tracks North Korea.

(Reporting by Sangmi Cha and Josh Smith; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese, Richard Pullin and Tom Hogue)

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-17

 

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[daveAustin]

Fear the biden admin will not be a great one for the koreas. Trump is and was a complete ****, but he was not a war-mongerer and at last had an affinity with this nutcase. Biden will just inflame the situation.

[talahtnut]

Standing up to Biden, well done Kim.

[Tug]

Awww isent that cute no madam hopefully they won’t stop infact I hope they will expand the war games to show you just how hopeless your cause is bringing you to the negotiating table trump allready tryed the ass kissing approach it dident work personally I’d like to see a 100% airtight naval blockade thrown in stop screwing around with this dictatorship 

[ezzra]

The bully of the free world, keeping his people back in the dark ages not knowing any better, and no one has the balls there to do anything about it out of sheer fears of reprisals...

[pacovl46]

Can someone please get rid of that venomous dwarf already?! 

[daveAustin]

^^ 

19 minutes ago, Tug said:

Awww isent that cute no madam hopefully they won’t stop infact I hope they will expand the war games to show you just how hopeless your cause is bringing you to the negotiating table trump allready tryed the ass kissing approach it dident work personally I’d like to see a 100% airtight naval blockade thrown in stop screwing around with this dictatorship 

Sorry, trying to deal with TV's new ui and can't find a decent emoji to purvey how numptified your post is. You won't deal with Kim like that. Yes, for sure, ideally we'd like to nuke him into oblivion along with xi, prayut, putin etc, but it doesn't work like that does it bruv.

[Jeffr2]

14 hours ago, talahtnut said:

Standing up to Biden, well done Kim.

Sad when some praise a murderous dictator.

Edited March 17, 2021 by onthedarkside
personal comment removed

[Jeffr2]

39 minutes ago, Tug said:

Awww isent that cute no madam hopefully they won’t stop infact I hope they will expand the war games to show you just how hopeless your cause is bringing you to the negotiating table trump allready tryed the ass kissing approach it dident work personally I’d like to see a 100% airtight naval blockade thrown in stop screwing around with this dictatorship 

Trump liked dictators.  He always considered himself an outsider, an underdog.  He was neither of these, being a millionaire by age 3.

He also commented NK was prime for a golf resort.  As usual with Trump, follow the money.  Just like with Russia and the Moscow Towers project.

The world's been tiptoeing around NK for decades.  Considering how they are selling drugs globally, selling nuclear supplies, and hacking for money...they should be put out of biz.

[rcuthbert]

Biden's base are Far Leftys who let their emotions rule their lives; consequently, If Biden gets aggressive with North Korea, they will turn on him. North Korea and china understand this, so expect a lot more disrespect.

Edited March 17, 2021 by rcuthbert

[Jeffr2]

2 minutes ago, rcuthbert said:

Biden's base are Far Leftys who let their emotions rule their lives; consequently; If Biden gets aggressive with North Korea, they will turn on him. North Korea and china understand this, so expect a lot more disrespect.

Far Leftys?  Jeez....what a bizarre thing to say.  Especially considering the past 4 years of roller coaster we experienced....all due to emotions and not facts.

Strange post.

[ThailandRyan]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"War drills and hostility can never go with dialogue and cooperation," Kim Yo Jong said.

Then stop with the parades and missile testing trying to flex your muscle.  One dropped Nuke from a failed missile launch would send North Korea into a panhandler and busker country.  Who bankrolls these clowns anyway.

[placeholder]

57 minutes ago, rcuthbert said:

Biden's base are Far Leftys who let their emotions rule their lives; consequently, If Biden gets aggressive with North Korea, they will turn on him. North Korea and china understand this, so expect a lot more disrespect.

I guess if lack of aggressiveness toward North Korea is your criterion of Lefty influence, it seems that Trump must have been under their thumb. He's the one who called joint exercises between the US and South Korea provocative and cancelled them.

[Jeffr2]

8 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Then stop with the parades and missile testing trying to flex your muscle.  One dropped Nuke from a failed missile launch would send North Korea into a panhandler and busker country.  Who bankrolls these clowns anyway.

I believe an accident happened in an underground site a few years ago.  Some radiation was detected in China.

China bankrolls these clowns.  Along with their own funding from selling nuclear supplies, missiles, drugs and hacking for money.  They should be dealt with promptly.  I'm sure the Japanese would be happy!!

[placeholder]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

I believe an accident happened in an underground site a few years ago.  Some radiation was detected in China.

China bankrolls these clowns.  Along with their own funding from selling nuclear supplies, missiles, drugs and hacking for money.  They should be dealt with promptly.  I'm sure the Japanese would be happy!!

What do you suggest be done?

[irishman25]

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Fear the biden admin will not be a great one for the koreas. Trump is and was a complete ****, but he was not a war-mongerer and at last had an affinity with this nutcase. Biden will just inflame the situation.

OK just look at this girl expressions would you get her ANGRY that look would kill.

[Jeffr2]

13 minutes ago, placeholder said:

What do you suggest be done?

No easy answers.  Massively complex.  But, needs to be done.  Sadly, there's no consensus globally on what to do.  Russia and China are against doing anything.  Leaving the West alone to try and get something solved.

Same issues with Iran.  Politics muddles everything.

[rcuthbert]

18 minutes ago, irishman25 said:

OK just look at this girl expressions would you get her ANGRY that look would kill.

I would sweet talk her.

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed. 

 

[robblok]

3 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Fear the biden admin will not be a great one for the koreas. Trump is and was a complete ****, but he was not a war-mongerer and at last had an affinity with this nutcase. Biden will just inflame the situation.

It seems nutcasses attract each other. I rather see Biden negotiate then Trump.

[animalmagic]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

The bully of the free world, keeping his people back in the dark ages not knowing any better, and no one has the balls there to do anything about it out of sheer fears of reprisals...

If you are talking about Kim I don't think North Korea can be classified as part of the 'free' world!

The speech is intended for the people of North Korea who need to be amazed at the strength of their nation, it's military and legendary leader

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"War drills and hostility can never go with dialogue and cooperation," Kim Yo Jong said.

Nor does developing nuclear weapons...

[Srikcir]

Biden should counter by threatening to send radicalized Trump supporters to N. Korea.

Have Bear spray will travel.

[Patong2021]

4 hours ago, rcuthbert said:

Biden's base are Far Leftys who let their emotions rule their lives; consequently, If Biden gets aggressive with North Korea, they will turn on him. North Korea and china understand this, so expect a lot more disrespect.

Such silliness. Are you making audition to replace Rush Limbaugh?  You have a need to attach name to something , like a child with OCD - to try and put complicated things in an order so you are not afraid.  The description you give of emotions ruling lives apply more to the far right crazies who attacked US capital. President Biden base is not "Far Leftys"  as they  preferred people like Sen. Warren or Sen Sanders. His support comes from mainstream America, people who do not support slave labor concentration camps, or mass murder or state criminal enterprise.   Trump let Kim do many evil things.  And no Pres. Biden will not seek conflict. The USA is  financially wiped out from Covid, just like  most of the world. No one can afford a war now.  Pres. Biden doesn't play soldier like Trump did, because he was senator and VP. He knows the  cost of war unlike buffoon Trump who thought you could nuke a hurricane to make it go away.

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

Such silliness. Are you making audition to replace Rush Limbaugh?  You have a need to attach name to something , like a child with OCD - to try and put complicated things in an order so you are not afraid.  The description you give of emotions ruling lives apply more to the far right crazies who attacked US capital. President Biden base is not "Far Leftys"  as they  preferred people like Sen. Warren or Sen Sanders. His support comes from mainstream America, people who do not support slave labor concentration camps, or mass murder or state criminal enterprise.   Trump let Kim do many evil things.  And no Pres. Biden will not seek conflict. The USA is  financially wiped out from Covid, just like  most of the world. No one can afford a war now.  Pres. Biden doesn't play soldier like Trump did, because he was senator and VP. He knows the  cost of war unlike buffoon Trump who thought you could nuke a hurricane to make it go away.

Back in the Golden Age when Trump was President conservatives were applauding him for being conciliatory to North Korea. Hmmm...

[from the home of CC]

11 hours ago, Tug said:

Awww isent that cute no madam hopefully they won’t stop infact I hope they will expand the war games to show you just how hopeless your cause is bringing you to the negotiating table trump allready tryed the ass kissing approach it dident work personally I’d like to see a 100% airtight naval blockade thrown in stop screwing around with this dictatorship 

think the US will take on China militarily?

[Sujo]

9 hours ago, irishman25 said:

OK just look at this girl expressions would you get her ANGRY that look would kill.

She can park her shoes under my bed anytime she wants.

As for rocketman, dont give the dwarf any oxygen in media at all. Back to insignificance.

[Isaan sailor]

9 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Then stop with the parades and missile testing trying to flex your muscle.  One dropped Nuke from a failed missile launch would send North Korea into a panhandler and busker country.  Who bankrolls these clowns anyway.

NK backs up to both China and Russia, the modern day evil axis.

[onthedarkside]

A trolling post and a name calling post have been removed, along with several replies.

 

[katana]

16 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Can someone please get rid of that venomous dwarf already?! 

Just to be clear, was that Biden or Kim Jong-un you were referring to? ????