Seoul: Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has denounced a U.S.-led multinational maritime exercise, labeling it a "war game" and vowing to enhance North Korea's nuclear war deterrence. Her comments were made in a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) following the conclusion of the Pacific Vanguard naval exercise, which involved U.S. allies such as South Korea and Japan, and lasted 13 days. According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim criticized the exercise as a rehearsal for U.S.-centered anti-warship, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare, accusing it of being a threatening "war game" designed to foster inter-camp confrontation in the region. She stated that this exercise is part of the U.S.'s strategy to maintain its dominance by leveraging military strength in the Asia-Pacific, where several major powers are considered its rivals. Kim expressed disapproval of South Korea and Japan's involvement, describing it as part of a "tripartite military cooperatio n system" targeting North Korea. She asserted that external threats to national security necessitate a corresponding increase in North Korea's military capabilities, emphasizing the need for North Korea to enhance its responsive actions, which could be proportional or more offensive. Kim warned that North Korea's commitment to defending its sovereignty would manifest in decisive actions, with no deviation from strengthening its nuclear deterrence. She stated that North Korea's military would fulfill its constitutional obligations by using all available means to counter such threats. This statement is Kim's second in as many days, following a previous declaration in which she dismissed calls for North Korea's denuclearization during the 70th regular session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Austria.