What did Cheong Wa Dae say after Kim Yo-jong criticized South Korea?

The presidential office said derogatory remarks toward the government and president do not help build mutual trust. It urged the North to stop unnecessary criticism and move toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.

Why did Kim Yo-jong attack Seoul and Lee Jae Myung over the military drills?

She said Seoul was in a poor plight of canceling war games after Washington scaled down the joint exercise. She also objected to Lee’s comments about respecting the reduced drills while pledging an independent buildup of military capabilities.

Cheong Wa Dae says N. Korea's derogatory remarks unhelpful to building mutual trust

Q: What is South Korea’s stated approach to North Korea-U.S. dialogue and inter-Korean peace?

The presidential office said the government will keep close cooperation with the U.S. while making proactive efforts to help resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue. It said Seoul will continue pursuing peaceful coexistence and mutual trust on the peninsula.

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Summary

The presidential office on Friday urged Pyongyang to stop derogatory remarks against South Korea and called for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. The statement came after Kim Yo-jong criticized Seoul and President Lee Jae Myung over reduced South Korea-U.S. military exercises. The office said such remarks do not help build mutual trust and reaffirmed efforts to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue with close U.S. cooperation.

Key Facts

Kim Yo-jong accused Seoul of being in a poor plight of canceling war games after Washington scaled down a joint South Korea-U.S. military exercise.
She also called President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks double-dealing remarks, referring to his comments on the drills and an independent buildup of military capabilities.
The presidential office said it will continue to seek peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas based on mutual trust and to help resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue as a pacemaker.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 21, 2026 2:44 pm KST

Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul / Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seog

The presidential office on Friday urged Pyongyang to halt its "derogatory remarks" against South Korea, one day after the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a statement seen to be aimed at belittling Seoul and its president.

"Derogatory remarks toward our government and president do not help in building mutual trust," the presidential office said in a brief press release.

"We call on the North to halt unnecessary criticism and march together toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," it added.

The message came after Kim Yo-jong, sister of the North Korean leader, accused Seoul of being "in a poor plight of canceling 'war games' it liked very much" over Washington's scaling down of a joint South Korea-U.S. military exercise.

Kim also accused South Korean President Lee Jae Myung of making "double-dealing remarks," referring to Lee's comments that he respects the scaling down of the drills while also pledging to pursue an "independent buildup of military capabilities."

The presidential office reiterated its commitment to a policy seeking peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas based on mutual trust.

"As a party directly involved in building peace on the Korean Peninsula, the government will continue its close cooperation with the U.S. while making proactive efforts to help resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue as a 'pacemaker,'" the presidential office said.

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