Government on North Korea's Kim Jong-un's Insults: "The Level Is Truly Low"

Kim Jong Un Expresses Wariness Over South Korea-US-Japan North Korea Nuclear Cooperation
Visits Naval Command with Daughter Ju-ae
Government: "Lacks Basic Courtesy... No Evaluation Needed"

The government dismissed North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's criticism of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan leaders as "gangster bosses" as low-level. This is seen as an expression of a sense of crisis following the strengthening of security cooperation among the three countries in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

An official from the Ministry of Unification said on the 29th during a meeting with reporters, "Chairman Kim Jong-un showed a sense of crisis over the groundbreaking evolution of the trilateral cooperation, including the strengthening of security cooperation following the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit." Regarding his harsh remarks directed at the three leaders, the official said, "It shows the low level of the speaker (Kim Jong-un)" and added, "There is no need to evaluate comments that lack even basic courtesy."

On the 28th, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the Naval Command Headquarters to mark Navy Day.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The official also stated, "North Korea is likely well aware that the strengthening of security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is a response to their own illegal nuclear and missile development and threats," and criticized, "Instead of boasting about the futile 'completion of war preparations,' which is like a house built on sand, they should focus on improving the livelihood of their people."

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong-un visited the naval command on the occasion of North Korea's Navy Day the previous day and said, "Not long ago, the gangster bosses of the United States, Japan, and the 'Daehanminguk' (Republic of Korea) gathered and announced the regularization of various joint military exercises among the three parties and began their implementation." It was also revealed that his daughter, Ju Ae, accompanied him for the first time in three months since May during this local guidance.

Earlier, on the 18th (local time), the South Korea-U.S.-Japan leaders adopted a 'commitment to trilateral consultations' at their summit. They agreed to jointly respond to crises in the Indo-Pacific region, including North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. While North Korea's state media had previously criticized this trilateral cooperation, this is the first time Kim Jong-un himself has directly intervened. It is also the first time he referred to South Korea as 'Daehanminguk.'

Since last month, North Korea, including Kim Yo-jong, deputy department head of the Workers' Party and Kim Jong-un's younger sister, has officially referred to South Korea by its official name 'Daehanminguk' at public events. They do not completely replace the term but sometimes use it interchangeably with 'Namjosun' (South Joseon). Some speculate that North Korea might be abandoning reunification under communism and shifting to a 'two-state theory,' but the government dismissed this as mere propaganda and agitation with mocking intent.