Kim Yo-jong, the Labor Party secretary for the General Affairs Department, criticized the downsizing of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), saying, "Because of a single word from Trump, Seoul has been placed in a pitiable situation where it must fold up its favorite 'war game.'"
On the 20th, Kim Yo-jong issued a statement to the Korean Central News Agency titled "Seoul's pitiable situation of being unable to play the war game it so enjoyed," and said accordingly, "Korea's situation of being unable to conduct the war game it most wanted clearly sketches the master-servant structure of the 'South Korea-U.S. blood alliance' they boasted of."
Kim said, "For Korea, it would be an unprecedented mishap in history for an exercise to become an empty shell as soon as it begins without prior consultation, as this time." She added, "Under the unilateral order of the U.S. commander in chief, even if the U.S. military tucks its tail without any coordination between the two sides, not being able to utter a word of protest is precisely the fate of a puppet army that has entrusted command authority to its master."
She went on, "A country whose national security is shaken to its core by a single downsizing of a combined military exercise is precisely the entity called Korea, which hands over defense and security to foreign powers yet flatters itself that it 'has more than enough ability to defend itself.'"
Kim Yo-jong also said, "This sudden situation is the due catastrophe brought about by the unrealistic and anachronistic delusions and security view of the South Korean authorities, who, lost in blind faith in their master, kept making a fuss without pause about trying to change the balance of power in a region managed by a nuclear-armed state."
She continued her criticism toward President Lee Jae-myung as well. Kim Yo-jong said, "In front, he flatters Trump's decision, while behind, he prattles on about 'self-reliant defense' in preparation for the 'worst-case scenario,' showing duplicitous words and deeds," and added, "This shows the South's uneasy and anxious contradictory psychology."
She added, "The fact that U.S. security support is no longer free is the reality the world is witnessing before its eyes," and said, "Rather, take this opportunity to properly study your thoroughly subordinate position and find an answer for survival."