Hong Kong. August 10. INTERFAX-The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the deputy head of the department of the Central Committee of the Workers ' Party of Korea, Kim Ye-jung, on Tuesday criticized South Korea and the United States for conducting joint military exercises, KCNA reports.
"The armed forces of the United States and South Korea eventually began joint military exercises that further contribute to instability," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement.
She expressed regret about the decision of the South Korean authorities to start military exercises, calling these actions "betrayal".
"We will strengthen our national defense and strong preventive capabilities to respond quickly to any military action," Kim Ye Jung added.
Joint military exercises of South Korea and the United States are held annually in August.
On Tuesday, both countries began preliminary preparations for the exercises, which are scheduled to start next week.
Pyongyang has long opposed such exercises, condemning them as a rehearsal for an invasion.
Earlier, the sister of the DPRK leader warned that the annual summer military exercises between South Korea and the United States would have a bad impact on inter-Korean relations.