Kim Yo Jong threatens retaliatory action
SEOUL: The sister of North Korea’s leader has warned of retaliatory measures against South Korea that could involve the military, in the latest escalation of tensions over defectors from the North who have been sending back propaganda and food.
Kim Yo Jong, one of Kim Jong Un’s unofficial top aides, issued the warning in a statement carried by state news agency Korean Central News Agency yesterday.
“By exercising my power authorised by the Supreme Leader, our Party and the state, I gave an instruction to the... department in charge of the affairs with (the) enemy to decisively carry out the next action,” Kim said.
Her statement, which did not say what the next action could be, came days after South Korea took legal action against defectors who have been sending material such as rice and anti-north leaflets, usually by balloon over the heavily fortified border or in bottles by sea.
North Korea said it has been angered by the defectors and to mark its displeasure it has in the past week severed inter-korean hotlines and is threatening to close a liaison office between the two governments.
Analysts say North Korea appears to using the leaflet issue to increase pressure on South Korea amid stalled denuclearisation talks.
Kim is first vice department director of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee.
Her harsh rhetoric demonstrates her elevated status in North Korea’s leadership. Already seen as the most powerful woman in the country and her brother’s closest confidant, state media recently confirmed that she is now in charge of relations with South Korea.
Her statement came hours after a senior North Korean Foreign Ministry official said that Seoul should drop “nonsensical” talk about the North’s denuclearisation, and that his country would continue to expand its military capabilities to counter what it perceives as threats from the US.
As part of the effort to improve ties with the North, South Korean president Moon Jae-in’s administration has sought to discourage the border protest leaflet and rice campaigns, and defectors have complained of pressure to avoid criticism of North Korea.