North Korea's Kim Yo-jong Targets Cheong Wa Dae, Fiercely Criticizes "A Frightened Dog Barks Louder" (Comprehensive)

Statement by Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's Sister and First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party
Calls Blue House's Concerns over North Korean Projectile Launch "Presumptuous Behavior"
Mocks, "How Can Every Action Be Completely Foolish?"
Kim Yo-jong's First Statement in Her Name... Attention on Expanded Status and Influence

Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North 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 uttered and every action be so specific and perfectly foolish?"

North Korea's state-run media, the Korean Central News Agency, reported that on the night of the same day, Kim Yo-jong released a statement titled "Expressing Shock at the Blue House's Incompetent Way of Thinking," referring to 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 self-defensive measure.

She added that hearing voices from the Blue House in the South saying "strong regret" and "demands for suspension" regarding this training was truly puzzling to them, criticizing it as "presumptuous and frivolous behavior" and "the height of audacity."

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 was as if "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."

She also said, "Though it is a truly regrettable analogy, it is said that a frightened dog barks louder."

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

Meeting participants also urged North Korea to stop such actions, stating that these behaviors do not help efforts to ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Yo-jong further 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 postponement, 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.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, supervised the firepower strike training of the long-range artillery unit at the front line on the 2nd, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 3rd.

Kim Yo-jong, who emerged with Kim Jong-un's official rise to power in 2012, has actively participated in inter-Korean, North Korea-China, and North Korea-U.S. summits, but this is the first time she has issued a statement in her own name.

Jung Sung-jang, director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, analyzed, "This suggests that Kim Yo-jong's status and influence have expanded to the extent that she can now publicly express her own position beyond supporting Chairman Kim's public activities."

Professor Yang also stated, "Usually, statements would come from the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the issuance of a statement in Kim Yo-jong's name implies a change in her role and standing."

He evaluated, "With the recent dismissal of Ri Man-gon, head of the Organization and Guidance Department, Kim Yo-jong may have emerged as the top power, and through this statement, she has revealed her presence."

On the 2nd, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, supervised a firepower strike drill of the frontline long-range artillery unit, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 3rd. The photo, released on the KCNA website, shows a rocket launcher firing scene, with a projectile erupting in flames from one of the four launch tubes on the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL).

There are also observations that Kim Yo-jong's statement foreshadows a difficult path for inter-Korean relations this year.

Kim Yo-jong has been a messenger and special envoy for inter-Korean dialogue since the early 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Her issuing a critical statement targeting the Blue House can be interpreted as a sign that distrust toward South Korea has reached its peak.

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

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies evaluated, "(Kim Yo-jong) separated the president and the Blue House without directly naming the president, indicating a moderation in the message's tone."