Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has launched a scathing attack on South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. While Kim labeled Yoon as "foolishly brave," she surprisingly praised his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, as "smart."
Kim's statement, released on Tuesday, was in response to Yoon's New Year's Day address, in which he vowed to strengthen South Korea's military capabilities and enhance its alliance with the United States to counter the evolving nuclear threats posed by North Korea, as per Voice of America.
Kim Jong Un's Sister Derides South Korea President
In her statement, Kim expressed her admiration for Yoon's efforts to build up North Korea's military muscle, describing him as a "top-class person" deserving of praise. She contrasted Yoon with his predecessor, describing Moon as "sagacious and crafty," but criticized his policy of engagement, which she argued resulted in wasted time for North Korea in building up its military capacity.
South Korea's Defense Ministry dismissed Kim's statement as "ridiculous," equating it to a criminal blaming law enforcement or innocent bystanders for their crimes. The ministry emphasized its commitment to swiftly responding to any North Korean provocations and maintaining a firm preparedness posture.
While Yoon has sought to enhance military cooperation with the United States since assuming office in 2022, North Korea has been conducting a flurry of missile and weapons tests. Additionally, the regime has strengthened its ties with Russia, with some alleging that there is an exchange of artillery, equipment, and advanced technology for missile and space programs between the two nations.
In November, North Korea launched what it claimed to be its first military spy satellite, and Kim Jong Un recently declared the intention to launch three more satellites in 2024 while further bolstering the country's nuclear arsenal.
Kim's statement was seen as an attempt to undermine Yoon's North Korea policy and influence sentiment against him ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in April. By asserting that Yoon's "foolishly brave" stance and "fanatical military confrontation posture" have contributed to North Korea's military programs, Kim sought to generate support for candidates opposing Yoon's approach, according to UPI.
Mixed Signals on Moon Jae-in Amid Diplomatic Shifts
Surprisingly, Kim offered contradictory remarks about Moon Jae-in, whom she called "very smart and crafty." This praise contradicted earlier statements in which she and her government strongly berated the former South Korean president. Moon's engagement policy was both praised and criticized.
Supporters credited him with achieving cooperation with North Korea without major armed conflicts, while critics accused him of being a naive supporter of North Korea who inadvertently allowed the regime to advance its nuclear program while evading international sanctions.
The breakdown of nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the United States prompted North Korea to intensify efforts to modernize its nuclear arsenal. Consequently, South Korea and the United States, now led by President Yoon and President Joe Biden, respectively, have expanded their military exercises and increased temporary deployments of strategic assets. North Korea views these maneuvers as significant security threats to its regime.
Experts believe that Kim Jong Un's frustration with the lack of strategic dominance on the Korean Peninsula has fueled his anger and may lead to an escalation of weapons testing ahead of the US presidential election in November. It is speculated that Kim believes he could secure major concessions, such as sanctions relief, if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House.
However, experts maintain that even if Trump were reelected, North Korea would not likely achieve its desired outcomes. Nonetheless, given other pressing international issues, such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Israel-Hamas conflict, there remains the possibility of another meeting between Trump and Kim, potentially resulting in concessions from the US side, Times Union reported.
