Kim Jong-un condemned the South Korea-U.S. military drills as a clear signal of a “will to ignite war,” vowing stronger military action and expanded naval power.
President Lee Jae Myung directed ministries to take phased steps to revive inter-Korean agreements, stressing restored trust and peaceful engagement with North Korea.
On Liberation Day, Kim Jong-un avoided mention of U.S. ties and instead underscored the growing DPRK-Russia friendship, hosting a senior Russian delegation in Pyongyang.
North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong rejected South Korea’s recent conciliatory gestures, calling them a “shabby, deceptive farce,” and reaffirmed Pyongyang’s refusal to engage with Seoul or Washington under current conditions.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a rare, publicly acknowledged phone call ahead of the U.S.-Russia summit, signaling close coordination on Ukraine and broader strategic issues.
North Korea has warned of a “resolute counteraction posture” against ongoing U.S.-South Korea military drills, despite Seoul’s partial schedule changes.
