The North Korean leader’s influential sister lambasted the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises that kicked off this week, warning of the “most terrible” consequences and an overwhelming response from Pyongyang.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released a statement by Kim Yo Jong on Tuesday, marking her first public remarks in her new role as head of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s General Affairs Department.

In her statement, Kim took aim at the 11-day large-scale joint military exercise, dubbed Freedom Shield, which began Monday. 

Seoul and Washington are engaging in “war exercises” that target the DPRK, she alleged, amid the