Archive · 20 Aug 2026
North Korea Condemns Seoul’s Response to Reduced U.S. Drills
The United States and South Korea reduced a military exercise.
Donald Trump said he wanted to encourage talks with North Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung welcomed the decision as a possible step toward dialogue.
Kim Yo Jong, North Korea’s leader’s sister, strongly criticized Lee’s response.
She said South Korea was being insincere and making excuses.
She also said North Korea’s hostile-policy concerns about the United States had not changed.
Trump said he had received a response from Kim Jong Un.
Kim Yo Jong said she did not know about any recent communication between them.
Russia supported the smaller military exercise because it said this could reduce security risks.
Kim Yo Jong called South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s comments on reduced U.S.-South Korea drills “double-dealing remarks.”
The military exercises were cut short after Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in U.S. participation.
Lee said the move could create conditions for renewed dialogue between Trump and Kim Jong Un.
Kim Yo Jong called Seoul’s explanation for the reduction “nothing but a lame excuse” and said U.S. hostility toward North Korea remained unchanged.
Russia welcomed the reduced drills, saying they could lower conflict potential and regional security risks.
- Who
- North Korean official Kim Yo Jong, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, U.S. President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
- What
- North Korea criticized South Korea’s reaction to a substantial reduction in U.S. participation in joint military drills with South Korea.
- When
- The criticism was reported on Thursday, after the drills were cut short and scheduled to end on Friday; the report was dated Aug. 20.
- Where
- The developments concerned the Korean Peninsula and relations among North Korea, South Korea, the United States, and Russia.
- Why
- The drills were reduced after Trump said he wanted to revive diplomacy with Kim Jong Un; North Korea said U.S. hostility had not changed, while Russia said reducing the drills could lower regional security risks.
South Korea, United States and Russia
North Korea
Meaning of the reduced drills
South Korea, United States and Russia
Lee Jae Myung said Trump’s decision could help create conditions for peace and renewed dialogue. Russia welcomed the move as a way to reduce conflict and security risks.
North Korea
Kim Yo Jong said South Korea’s description of the reduction was a lame excuse and maintained that U.S. hostility toward North Korea had not changed.
South Korea’s public reaction
South Korea, United States and Russia
Lee presented the reduction as evidence of Trump’s careful effort to move beyond hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea
Kim Yo Jong said Lee’s remarks revealed uneasiness and impatience and amounted to double-dealing.
Recent leader communications
South Korea, United States and Russia
Donald Trump said he had received a response from Kim Jong Un after the drills were reduced.
North Korea
Kim Yo Jong said she was unaware of any recent communication between her brother and Trump.
- Military drills
- U.S.-South Korea exercises were cut short and were scheduled to end on Friday.
- U.S. decision
- Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in U.S. participation.
- North Korean response
- Kim Yo Jong described Lee Jae Myung’s remarks as “double-dealing” and the explanation as “nothing but a lame excuse.”
- South Korean response
- Lee said the reduction showed Trump’s effort to create conditions for dialogue with North Korea.
- Trump’s claim
- Trump said he had received a response from Kim Jong Un after the drills were reduced.
- Communication dispute
- Kim Yo Jong said she was unaware of any recent communication between Kim Jong Un and Trump.
- Russia’s position
- Maria Zakharova said measures reducing conflict potential and security risks should be welcomed.