Kim Jong-Un’s sister warns US and South Korea over 'hostile' war games exercise

Kim Jung-un’s sister has warned the US and South Korea not to hold “hostile” military drills this August in a show of her rising power in North Korea.

Kim Yo-jong warned that North Korea will be watching closely to see if the annual “war exercises” take place and that they would damage “North-South” relations.

She is known to be a trusted confidante of Kim’s and her role on the political stage is growing.

A positive step was taken last month in relations between the two countries when communication channels were reopened.

But Yo-jong said moves towards a better relationship could be undone.

Yo-jong said that military exercises would undermine relations between the North and South (X80001)

"Our government and military will keep a close eye on whether the South Koreans go ahead with the aggressive war exercises, or make a big decision," Yo-jong said in a KCNA statement.

"Hope or despair? That's not up to us."

The US and South Korea hold a military drill each year which they have previously said is for defence reasons.

South Korea’s defence ministry spokesman Boo Seung-Chan has said that a decision on the drills will be dependent on the Covid situation.

South Korean and US soldiers sit inside an armoured vehicle during a 2016 exercise (AFP)

Yo-jong said: "For some days I have been hearing an unpleasant story that joint military exercises between the South Korean army and the US forces could go ahead as scheduled.

"I view this as an undesirable prelude which seriously undermines the will of the top leaders of the North and the South wishing to see a step taken toward restoring mutual trust and which further beclouds the way ahead of the North-South relations."

Yo-jung is rumoured to be seen by Kim as his successor should he die before his son, 12, is old enough, but he feels that she needs to demonstrate some political strength in order to be accepted by the North Korean ruling class.

Yo-jong is seen as the preferred choice by the Korean dictator as his replacement if he died before his son was old enough to take over (Getty Images)

After Joe Biden was elected US president earlier this year, she quickly sent a warning to him.

"We take this opportunity to warn the new US administration trying hard to give off powder smell in our land.

"If it wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step."