Kim Yo-jong Immediately Steps Up Amid Demotion Rumors Over "Top Idiots in That South Korean Neighborhood" (Comprehensive)

Harsh Criticism Over JCS Observation of North Korea's Military Parade
"Expression of Hostile Vigilance... Bizarre Tribe"
Appears Immediately Amid Speculation of Declining Influence, Asserting Presence

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un

Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued a statement strongly condemning the recent tracking of North Korea's military parade by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff as a 'hostile perspective.'

In the statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, Vice Director Kim said, "The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spat out ridiculous remarks such as having detected signs of North Korea holding a military parade late at night on the 10th and conducting precise tracking," adding, "This should be regarded as an unhidden expression of the hostile view the South Korean authorities harbor toward their own people."

She continued, "We neither conducted military exercises targeting anyone in the capital nor launched anything, so why do they strain their necks to pry into another's household affairs with such effort?" She added, "There are about 200 countries on this planet, but only South Korea's military institutions express hostile vigilance by using terms like 'sign detection' and 'precise tracking' regarding another country's celebratory events."

She went on to deliver harsh criticism, saying, "Anyway, those people over there are truly bizarre and incomprehensible folks." She also said, "They only pick things that make the world laugh, and when it comes to behaving properly on the global stage, they are top-class fools who would be offended if told to do better." She then warned, "As I have said before, these things will surely have to be accounted for later," foreshadowing consequences.

Kim Yo-jong issued this statement under the title of 'Vice Department Director of the Party Central Committee,' not the previous 'First Vice Department Director of the Party Central Committee.' It was confirmed that she was demoted from a candidate member of the Party Political Bureau to a member of the Party Central Committee at the recent Party Congress, along with a reduction in her party position.

However, the prevailing assessment is that Kim Yo-jong's demotion should not be seen as a decline in her political standing or a fall from grace. The fact that she immediately issued a statement criticizing South Korea under her own name as soon as rumors of demotion surfaced supports this view. Although her rank and position have been lowered, it is believed that her political status and role remain unchanged. Notably, this is Kim Yo-jong's first statement this year, indicating that she will continue to oversee inter-Korean affairs.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, explained, "(Kim Yo-jong) does not hold an official position but still oversees inter-Korean issues," adding, "She issued the statement at this time to assert her presence amid rumors of demotion."

He further noted, "Just as she reacted sensitively to former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha's remarks, she immediately responds when South Korean public opinion negatively affects her brother, the Chairman, thereby demonstrating loyalty and asserting her presence."

Jung Sung-jang, a research fellow at the Wilson Center and senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, interpreted, "Kim Yo-jong's issuance of the first statement of the new year under her personal name shows that, unlike other officials, she still oversees inter-Korean affairs regardless of her official affiliation," and added, "Her failure to be elected as a candidate member of the Party Political Bureau at the 8th Party Congress does not mean her actual status has diminished."