According to Xinhua News Agency's report on August 19, the Korean Central News Agency reported on August 19 that Kim Jong-sun, a minister of the Central Committee of the Korean Labor Party in North Korea, stated that he knew nothing about what Washington had said.
As for recently, the North Party stated that “it is not worth commenting on, and they have no interest in doing so.”
Kim and Park stated that reducing the scale or duration of military exercises does not alter the provocative and aggressive nature of such exercises. This year alone, the US and South Korea have conducted various joint military exercises in different airspace and domains. Examples include the "Twin Eagles" joint exercise in February, joint small-unit training and the "Free Shield" large-scale joint military exercise in March, the US-South Korea maritime rescue exercise and joint mine warfare exercise in April, the "Liberty Flag" large-scale joint aerial training in May, the joint logistics support exercise and the "Twin Eagles" joint exercise in July.
According to Kim and Park, the fact that the Korean side continues to focus on joint military exercises is a clear indication of US hostility towards North Korea. If the US attempts to present the reduction of military exercises as a "good initiative," it will not receive the expected response.
Regarding reports by foreign media that North Korean and American leaders have communicated, Kim Jong-il stated that she had no knowledge of this at all. Kim Jong-il also said that the United States' hostile policy towards North Korea has not changed, and the United States and its followers are still actively carrying out hostile military activities against North Korea. Therefore, although there is a good relationship between North Korean and American leaders, the sovereign actions taken by North Korea to counter threats to its national security are very reasonable, appropriate, and necessary.
