North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong said it is “high time” to break relations with South Korean authorities, adding the next action against the “enemy” will come from the army.
Kim Yo Jong said via Korean Central News Agency on Saturday, “It’s better to take a series of retaliatory measures rather than release statements condemning South Korea’s behaviour, and which could be misinterpreted or dismissed.”
She added, “Rubbish must be thrown into dustbin. By exercising my power authorised by the Supreme Leader, our party and the state, I gave an instruction to the arms of the department in charge of the affairs with enemy to decisively carry out the next action.
Kim Yo Jong’s comments came on the 20th anniversary of the first meeting between top leaders of the divided Koreas. The summit beginning on June 13, 2000, was the biggest moment of then-President Kim Dae-jung’s reconciliation effort that led to stepped-up trade and joint projects and helped earn the South Korean leader the Nobel Peace Prize.
While that “Sunshine Policy” helped cool tensions, it was also criticized for providing North Korean leaders with cash needed to build up its nuclear-weapons program.
President Moon Jae-in’s office said he was planning to meet top aides Monday after his security officials held an urgent meeting via video conference early Sunday to discuss the current situation on the divided peninsula, and possible responses.
Legitimacy to rule
Recent statements by Kim Yo Jong were designed to solidify Kim Jong Un’s authority to run the country, according to Boo Seung-chan, a former adviser to South Korea’s defense minister.
North Korean officials are lashing out at South Korea for lacking a fresh solution to revive nuclear talks, and said the country will continue to strengthen its force to deal with what it called U.S. threats.
Foreign Ministry official Kwon Jong Gun said via KCNA, “If they want to deal with us, they will have to approach us after racking their brains and finding a different method. We will continue to build up our force in order to overpower the persistent threats from the U.S., and such efforts of ours are in fact continuing at this point of time.”
