The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) denounced on Aug 20 an ongoing joint military exercise between the United States (US) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), criticizing Seoul’s double-dealing approach toward Pyongyang.

In a consultative meeting with major director-generals of the DPRK’s Foreign Ministry the previous day, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, criticized the ROK’s government and called its policy as the deceptive “appeasement offensive”, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

“The ambition for confrontation with the DPRK has been invariably pursued by the ROK, whether it held the signboard of ‘conservatism’ or wore a mask of ‘democracy’,” said Kim.

READ MORE: DPRK condemns large-scale US-ROK joint military exercises

Noting that the current ROK administration had repeated its predecessors' “gibberish” of “defensive drill” after staging the joint exercise for “aggression directly threatening the security of the DPRK”, Kim said it exposed Seoul’s double-dealing policy.

Kim said the ROK cannot be a diplomatic partner of the DPRK.

The ROK and the US began their annual large-scale military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, on Aug 18. The 11-day drills will involve 18,000 soldiers from ROK, with a focus on training to deter DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs. About half of some 40 planned field training programs were postponed to September.

The DPRK said on Aug 10 that the drills show the allies’ stance of “military confrontation” with the country.

ROK’s President Lee Jae-myung, speaking on the same day when the allies began the military drills, noted that the country should steadily take steps to ease tensions with the DPRK. He also asked relevant ministries to prepare for a phased implementation of the suspended 2018 military agreement between the two sides to reduce border tensions.

"If small, practical steps pile up like pebbles, mutual trust will be restored,” the Yonhap News Agency quoted Lee as saying.

He said the path to peace will widen, and a foundation will be laid for the ROK and the DPRK to grow together.

Lee said the military exercise is not aimed at contingencies against the DPRK or at heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula, but to achieve peace and protect the lives of ROK’s citizens.

Lee’s presidential office also expressed regret over Kim’s latest remarks over Lee’s peace overtures.

The proactive measures by the Lee administration for peace on the Korean Peninsula were meant for the stability and prosperity of both sides, his office said.  

"The government will leave behind the era of hostility and confrontation to open a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula," it added.

READ MORE: ROK civil groups rally against joint military exercise with US

Lee has been emphasizing the need to ease tensions and restore bilateral trust with the DPRK ever since he took office in June. The ROK said this month it has completed dismantling loudspeakers installed along the border with the DPRK. The previous Yoon Suk-yeol administration had resumed loudspeaker broadcasts in June 2024.

Lee is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on Aug 25 in Washington, with analysts expecting the outcome of the meeting to have a significant impact on inter-Korean relations.

China said it hopes relevant parties will face up to the root cause and crux of the Korean Peninsula issue, jointly safeguard peace and stability on the Peninsula, and advance the political settlement of the issue, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Aug 19.

Contact the writer at kelly@chinadailyapac.com