N Korea's Kim Yo Jong blasts US drills, threatens 'more offensive' response

SEOUL, Sept 18: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister accused the United States of escalating regional tensions through frequent military drills and warned of a "more offensive" response from Pyongyang, according to a statement published by state media Friday.

The comments came amid an escalation in rhetoric from Pyongyang, even as US President Donald Trump has sought to revive diplomacy and improve ties with North Korea but received little response to his overtures.

"The present situation, in which new records are set in terms of practical action hostile toward the DPRK, stresses the need to break records in our responsive action, proportional or more offensive in its nature," Kim Yo Jong said, using North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, according to her statement carried by KCNA news agency.�" AFP