[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] North Korea expressed concerns about the South Korea-US joint military exercises scheduled for August.
On the 1st, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of North Korea, stated, "Military exercises conducted at such a critical turning point as now could further cloud the future of inter-Korean relations."
In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, Deputy Director Kim said, "We keep hearing unpleasant talk that the South Korean military and US forces may proceed with the joint military exercises as planned."
She added, "We have not discussed the scale or format of the joint military exercises," and "Our government and military will closely watch whether the South Korean side will conduct hostile war exercises again in August or make a significant decision."
Regarding speculation about the possibility of holding a 4th inter-Korean summit following the sudden restoration of the inter-Korean communication line on the 27th of last month, she said, "Inside and outside South Korea, people are interpreting its meaning in an exaggerated way." She continued, "They are even publicizing the issue of the North-South summit, but I think this is a premature and reckless judgment."
She explained that the restoration of the inter-Korean communication line "should not be given any meaning beyond physically reconnecting what had been cut off."
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