Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Kim Yo-jong's 'Harsh Remarks': "North Korea's Unusually Sensitive Reaction"

Lim Suseok, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, on Kim Yo-jong's Statement on the 24th: "Attempts to Shift Responsibility Will Never Succeed"
Unprecedented North Korean Response to Our Government's Firm Stance

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, issued a vulgar-level "statement" on the 24th in response to South Korea and the United States' push for independent sanctions against North Korea, indicating that "our efforts to deter North Korea's nuclear development are having a significant impact on the North Korean regime."

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Lim said at a regular briefing that day, "North Korea responded unusually sensitively to our consideration of independent sanctions while focusing on illegal maritime activities and cyber activities to evade international sanctions against North Korea."

This suggests that North Korea is reacting to the South Korean government's tough stance.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the statement released through the Korean Central News Agency that day, Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong criticized, "The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs is nitpicking by calling our exercise of self-defense rights a provocation and blabbering that additional independent sanctions measures are being considered as this continues."

He said, "This statement by Kim Yo-jong attempts to shift responsibility for the illegal ballistic missile launches that threaten us," adding, "The recent escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula is entirely the responsibility of North Korea, which is conducting illegal provocations, so any attempt to shift this responsibility to us will never succeed."

Spokesperson Lim emphasized, "By strengthening sanctions against North Korea in close cooperation with the international community, including the United States, we will unwaveringly create an environment where North Korea has no choice but to abandon nuclear development and return to denuclearization negotiations."

He reiterated that if North Korea carries out major provocations such as a seventh nuclear test, sanctions in various fields including cyber and maritime will be considered.

Regarding cyber sanctions, Spokesperson Lim stated, "They will raise domestic and international awareness of North Korea's illegal cyber activities and contribute to cutting off funding necessary for nuclear missile development," adding, "We will continue to closely cooperate with the international community, including allies such as the United States."