Kim Yo-jong Targets Cheong Wa Dae, Fiercely Criticizes "A Scared Dog Barks Louder"

Statement by Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, 'Kim Jong-un's Younger Sister'
On Cheongwadae's Expression of Concern over North Korea's Projectile Launch: "Presumptuous Act"
"Is Everything You Do So Perfectly Foolish?"

Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, issued a statement on the 3rd, fiercely criticizing the Blue House by saying, "How can every word spat out and every action be so specific and perfectly foolish?"

This is the first time that Kim Yo-jong, who emerged alongside Kim Jong-un's official rise to power in 2012, has released a statement.

North Korea's state media, the Korean Central News Agency, reported that on the night of the same day, Kim Yo-jong issued a statement titled "Expressing Shock at the Blue House's Incompetent Way of Thinking," regarding the previous day's firepower combat training by the People's Army's frontline long-range artillery unit, stating, "We did not conduct the training to threaten anyone," emphasizing it was a defensive measure.

She added that hearing the Blue House's "strong regret" and "demands for suspension" in response to the training was truly puzzling to them, criticizing it as "presumptuous and senseless behavior" and "the height of audacity." Kim Yo-jong also said, "Though it is a regrettable analogy, a frightened dog barks louder."

Kim Yo-jong pointed out that South Korea frequently conducts joint military exercises and deploys advanced fighter jets, and regarding the Blue House's reaction, she claimed it meant "they (South Korea) must be militarily prepared, but we (North Korea) should not conduct military training," arguing that "such illogical claims and actions only amplify distrust, hatred, and contempt toward the entire South Korean side."

The Blue House held an emergency meeting of related ministers the previous day after North Korea launched two projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea, expressing strong concern over North Korea's actions that heightened military tensions through resuming projectile launches and joint strike drills.

Meeting participants also stated that such actions by North Korea do not help efforts to ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and urged them to stop.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un supervised a fire strike drill of the frontline long-range artillery unit on the 2nd, according to Korean Central TV on the 3rd.

Kim Yo-jong also mentioned the postponement of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for earlier this month, adding, "It was the outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) rampant in South Korea that caused the delay, not the decision of the Blue House leaders who have no interest in peace, reconciliation, or cooperation."

She expressed dissatisfaction by saying, "Liking to act like robbers and making unreasonable demands is exactly like the United States," and criticized South Korea for valuing its alliance more than its own people.

However, she refrained from directly criticizing President Moon Jae-in, saying, "It is truly regrettable and disappointing, but it is somewhat fortunate that it was not a direct statement from the president."