The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a warning that next month’s annual military drills between South Korea and the US could undermine the prospects for better relations between the Koreas.

Kim Yo Jong said on Sunday that the military practice “seriously undermines the will of the top leaders of the North and the South wishing to see a step taken toward restoring mutual trust and which further beholds the way ahead of the North-South relations”, - according to the Associated Press.

Her warning came just days after the two Koreas reopened their long-dormant communications channels.