Kim Yo-jong Issues 'Anti-South Criticism' Statement After Two Days
Mentions Former and Current Presidents by Name with Harsh Words
Targets Ministry of Foreign Affairs... "Will Become a Noose of Sanctions Against North Korea"
Amid 'Security Council Futility Theory,' South Korea and China Remain at Odds
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of North Korea, issued a statement condemning South Korea and the United States' push for independent sanctions against North Korea. This came two days after the United Nations Security Council convened an open meeting to address North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch, which she called a "clear double standard."
In this statement, she hurled insults at President Yoon Suk-yeol, calling him a "foolish idiot," and compared the current administration to the Moon Jae-in government, effectively inciting anti-government protests. Analysts interpret this as reaffirming the 'strongman-to-strongman' confrontation stance between the two Koreas by shifting the justification for military provocations from 'South Korea-US joint exercises' to 'sanctions against North Korea.'
"When Moon Jae-in was in power, Seoul was not the 'target'"
Former President Moon Jae-in is shaking hands with Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, a North Korean aide introduced by Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. / Photo by Korea Joint Press Corps
In the statement released on the 24th through the Korean Central News Agency, Vice Director Kim said, "It is beyond understanding why the people of (South) Korea just watch the 'regime' where fools like Yoon Suk-yeol sit and keep creating precarious situations," and insisted, "At least when Moon Jae-in was in power, Seoul was not our target."
She particularly threatened, "The more the United States and South Korean lackeys desperately cling to sanctions and pressure against us, the greater our hostility and anger will grow, and that will become a noose tightening their lifelines."
This content is interpreted as directly targeting South Korea for attack. It aligns with the declaration of a preemptive strike intention using nuclear weapons through the legalization of nuclear armament in September. The specific mention of Seoul as an attack target recalls the 1994 8th inter-Korean working-level talks, where North Korean representative Park Young-soo's "Seoul will be a sea of fire" remark was made.
Furthermore, Kim Yo-jong criticized, "The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs is nitpicking our exercise of self-defense rights by labeling it as 'provocation,' and they are blowing the horn that they are considering additional 'independent sanctions' as this continues," adding, "Seeing the disgusting behavior of South Korean people who slavishly follow and recite every word as soon as the U.S. talks about 'independent sanctions' against North Korea, they are America's 'lapdogs' and lackeys with nowhere to go."
This targets the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which hinted at additional independent sanctions against North Korea. On the 22nd, Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-seok stated, "As North Korea's provocations continue, we are also considering additional independent sanctions." At that time, the Ministry announced plans to designate individuals involved in North Korea's illegal cyber activities as sanction targets and to impose sanctions in the cyber domain.
From South Korea-US joint exercises to sanctions against North Korea... "Building justification for military provocations"
Kim Yo-jong's statement came two days after the UN Security Council held a meeting on the 22nd to discuss North Korea's ICBM launch, which she condemned as a "clear double standard."
Experts analyze that North Korea is signaling additional provocations using independent sanctions against North Korea as a pretext following the South Korea-US joint military exercises. This is seen as "building justification" for high-intensity provocations such as a normal-angle ICBM launch or a seventh nuclear test. Especially, the threat carries more weight as it comes from Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the supreme leader and the chief diplomat for inter-Korean and US relations.
Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, said, "While the statement on the 22nd was aimed at criticizing the UN and the U.S., this statement focuses on criticizing South Korea and defending the position on sanctions against North Korea," adding, "It secures justification for additional provocations and indirectly induces social division by naming current and former presidents."
Jung Sung-jang, director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "She is even using contemptuous expressions toward the current government to incite anti-government protests among the people," and predicted, "Although this is not the first time Kim Yo-jong has issued harsh criticism, since she oversees inter-Korean policy and has some influence over the military, North Korea is expected to further escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula."
'Uselessness of the Security Council' and Diverging Positions of South Korea and China
Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop and Wei Fenghe, Minister of National Defense of China (right) Photo by Ministry of National Defense
China, considered an ally of North Korea, recently urged the South Korean and U.S. governments to play a "constructive role" regarding the North Korean nuclear threat during high-level diplomacy, but still maintains a lukewarm stance, raising concerns that this may encourage North Korea's miscalculations. With UN Security Council sanctions resolutions stalled, attention is focused on what sanction measures the government will unveil.
On the previous day at the 9th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup met with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and reiterated, "North Korea's expansion of nuclear and missile capabilities only leads to increased pressure and cohesion in the international community." However, Minister Wei responded by emphasizing "the need to resolve issues through dialogue among the parties involved," revealing a difference in tone.
Expectations for international pressure through the Security Council are low.
Earlier, on the 21st (local time), the UN Security Council convened an open meeting on North Korea's non-proliferation issues but adjourned again without visible results. This was because China and Russia repeated their stance blaming the U.S. for North Korea's military provocations. Ultimately, ambassadors from 14 countries including South Korea, the U.S., and Japan issued an off-site joint statement condemning North Korea's provocations immediately after the meeting.
Jung Sung-jang of the Sejong Institute advised, "Unless the North Korean leadership's judgment is fundamentally changed, North Korea's nuclear and missile threats will become more sophisticated and it will adopt a more high-handed attitude toward South Korea," adding, "If North Korea carries out a seventh nuclear test, it is necessary to show a firm stance considering even withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."
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