North Korea's Kim Yo-jong: "Bold Proposal is the Height of Absurdity and Foolishness... A Copy of Denuclearization and Opening 3000"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of North Korea, on the 19th rejected the "Bold Initiative," a roadmap for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a policy for aid to North Korea announced by President Yoon Suk-yeol in his August 15 Liberation Day speech, calling it "absurd" and "the height of foolishness," and stating that she "will not engage with it."

In a statement published under her name in the Workers' Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, Kim said, "Yoon Suk-yeol's so-called Bold Initiative is as unrealistic and foolish as trying to dry up the deep blue ocean to create a mulberry field."

She added, "I do not know what noisy plan they will come up with next to knock on our door, but we clearly state that we will never engage with it."

Kim also criticized, "The most disgusting thing is that they arrogantly and presumptuously tell us to stop nuclear development and switch to practical denuclearization, and then read out absurd words about proposing a 'bold and comprehensive initiative' that can dramatically improve the economy and people's livelihood," and disparaged both former President Moon Jae-in and President Yoon by saying, "When the person who once called himself the 'driver' and puzzled many people disappeared, now another person living in self-indulgence who does not match him at all has appeared and taken the throne."

She further belittled the initiative, saying, "(The Bold Initiative) is nothing new but merely a copy of 'Denuclearization, Openness, 3000,' which Lee Myung-bak's regime proposed over ten years ago and was rejected as a product of fratricidal confrontation rather than attracting public attention."

In particular, she revealed a lack of willingness for denuclearization by saying, "I don't know if they even realize that the assumption 'if the North takes denuclearization measures' is a wrong premise."

Kim sarcastically remarked, "There are things in the world that are meant for bargaining, but the idea of exchanging our nuclear sovereignty, which is our national essence, for things like economic cooperation is Yoon Suk-yeol's naive dream, hope, and plan, which made me feel that he is truly innocent and still very immature."

She also made it clear that North Korea has no intention of accepting humanitarian aid from the South Korean government, such as food supply and medical support. Kim said, "The wicked ones who continue to bring filthy garbage into our territory and severely violate our safe environment, while babbling about food supply and medical support for the North Korean people, only intensify the fierce hatred and anger of our people."

The "filthy garbage" she referred to appears to mean leaflets and other materials distributed from the South to North Korea. Kim had previously pointed to such leaflets as a cause of COVID-19 in North Korea at the nationwide emergency epidemic prevention meeting on the 10th.

She also said, "The shameless person who talks about the Bold Initiative today and tomorrow forcibly conducts North Korea invasion war exercises is none other than Yoon Suk-yeol, that great man," expressing rejection of the ongoing joint South Korea-U.S. military exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' (UFS), which is currently in its preliminary phase.

Meanwhile, on August 15, President Yoon proposed the Bold Initiative to the North, offering political and military reciprocal measures along with economic cooperation plans such as food and infrastructure support in response to North Korea's denuclearization steps.