A North Korean military representative said on Friday that recent South Korean military drills were a grave provocation that demanded a reaction, according to KCNA.

“Such reckless move of the military warmongers of the south side is the height of the military confrontation which would leave tongue-tied even their master,” said KCNA.

“Everything is now going back to the starting point before the north-south summit meeting in 2018.”

In a separate dispatch, KCNA said leader Kim sent a verbal message to the Chinese president over China’s success in dealing with the coronavirus, the state media said.

“Saying that he was pleased over the successes made in China as over his own, Kim Jong-un wished Xi Jinping good health, expressing conviction that the Chinese party and people would cement the successes made so far and steadily expand them and thus win a final victory under the wise guidance of Xi Jinping,” said the state report.

The KCNA said the relations between Pyongyang and Beijing were “firmly consolidated”.