Tae Young-ho: "Kim Yo-jong's Statement, Prelude to New Strategic Weapon Reveal or Provocation"

Taeyoungho "Hoping for a 'North Korea Policy' that Matches the People's Pride and Expectations"

The North Korean defector organization, the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, announced on the 1st that on the 31st of last month, they sent 500,000 leaflets titled "Kim Jong-un Threatens to Launch New Strategic Nuclear Weapons," 50 booklets, 2,000 one-dollar bills, and 1,000 memory cards (SD cards) attached to 20 large balloons flying toward North Korea from Wolgot-ri and Seongdong-ri in Gimpo City. The photo shows the North Korean defector group distributing leaflets to North Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News] Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 6th, Tae Young-ho, a member of the Future United Party, analyzed that Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers' Party of North Korea, who issued a statement condemning the leaflet distribution to North Korea on the 4th, "It could be a prelude to the unveiling of new strategic weapons or provocations for internal cohesion and external display."

In a statement posted on his Facebook on the same day, Representative Tae claimed, "If Kim Yo-jong wanted to pressure our government to stop the distribution of leaflets to North Korea, it would have been sufficient to announce it through South Korean media." He added, "However, the fact that it was announced in the Rodong Sinmun, which is used for educating North Korean residents, suggests that it is more for internal cohesion than for external purposes."

He continued, "North Korea should focus on regime cohesion and improving residents' lives ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party on October 10, but due to COVID-19, the 'all-out offensive strategy' in economic sectors such as tourism is facing difficulties."

He further stated, "If Kim Jong-un (Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea) judges that there will be no progress in North Korea-US or inter-Korean relations before the US presidential election ends, he will likely unveil new weapons to increase negotiation leverage with the US and South Korea after the election and to overcome the internal situation in North Korea, which is shaken by the worsening economic conditions."

On the morning of May 20th, Tae Young-ho, a newly elected member of the 21st National Assembly from the United Future Party, is touring the Constitution Hall during the orientation session for first-term lawmakers held at the main auditorium of the National Assembly Memorial Hall.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Additionally, Representative Tae said that the statement issued under Kim Yo-jong's name "means that the sister of North Korea's 'supreme dignity' acknowledged the existence of defectors through the Rodong Sinmun, which is also read by North Korean residents."

He said, "To my knowledge, this is the first time that the term 'defector' has been used in the Rodong Sinmun, which is read by residents, in reference to the 'Kim family,'" adding, "The term 'defector' itself acknowledges the failure of the North Korean regime."

He continued, "Whether intentional or not, the mention of defectors from the 'Kim family' being known to North Korean residents will serve as an opportunity to inform North Korea about the diversity and inclusive social structure of the Republic of Korea," and said, "I believe that the fact that two defectors have been elected as members of the 21st National Assembly has led to this change in North Korea."

Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea [Image source=Yonhap News]

Representative Tae criticized the South Korean government, which announced plans to enact laws restricting the distribution of leaflets to North Korea following Kim Yo-jong's statement, as pursuing a misguided North Korea policy.

Representative Tae said, "When Kim Yo-jong threatened, our government went further by saying 'We will make laws' and 'We will respond firmly to our own citizens,' which I think is not the image we should show," adding, "Our people now value progress in inter-Korean relations and peace maintenance, but they are hoping for a 'dignified North Korea policy' and a 'North Korea policy that matches the national pride and expectations of the people.'"

He added, "Currently, North Korea is trying to establish institutional measures favorable to itself by taking advantage of the Democratic Party holding 177 seats in the 21st general election," and said, "The fact that our people gave many votes to the Democratic Party in the 21st general election does not mean they want laws that suit Kim Jong-un's tastes."

He further stated, "On this occasion, South and North Korea should open dialogue for the effective implementation of the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration and discuss specific and realistic matters for the implementation of the declaration, such as the leaflet distribution issue."

Earlier, on the 4th, Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director, warned in a statement about the distribution of leaflets to North Korea, saying, "If the South Korean authorities fail to take appropriate measures regarding the malicious noise directed at our compatriots in their own neighborhood this time, they should be fully prepared for the complete dismantling of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, which has been uselessly abandoned following the suspension of Mount Kumgang tourism, the closure of the North-South Joint Liaison Office, which is nothing but a nuisance, or the nullification of the North-South military agreement."

Kim Yo-jong also unleashed harsh criticism, calling them "mongrel dogs." She pointed out, "Mongrel dogs are mongrel dogs, and since they keep running around and doing bad things, it is now time to hold their owners responsible."