Pyongyang: The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday criticized President Lee Jae Myung for offering reconciliatory overtures, saying that Seoul is not a diplomatic counterpart to Pyongyang.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the North Korean ruling party's Central Committee, stated that Lee is unfit to change the course of history. Her comments also included a condemnation of the ongoing military drills between South Korea and the United States.

Kim Yo-jong emphasized that South Korea would not be given any significant role in the regional diplomatic landscape, which she claimed is centered around North Korea. Her statements were reported by the North's Korean Central News Agency.

These remarks from Kim Yo-jong follow a series of attempts by Seoul to mend the long-standing strained inter-Korean relations. During his Liberation Day speech last week, President Lee expressed his willingness to respect North Korea's political system and assured that he would not pursue unification by absorption.

President Lee also promised to take measures to restore the 2018 inter-Korean military pact, which had been suspended and was initially aimed at reducing tensions between the two nations.