The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs has reaffirmed that South Korea’s annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with the United States is not intended to attack North Korea or increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, an official at Seoul’s unification ministry said the combined drills are defensive in nature and are meant to protect South Koreans.

The remarks come after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticized the joint training as “most hostile and confrontational.”

In response to a comment about it being unusual for Kim to issue such criticism directly, the official said it is believed to be a reaffirmation of an earlier statement from Kim Yo-jong, the regime leader’s powerful sister.

On Thursday last week, Kim Yo-jong dismissed Seoul’s apparent attempt to appease Pyongyang by adjusting the joint military drills, saying it “does not deserve praise and will prove futile.”