Seoul:Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has issued a warning about deploying "new counter means" along the inter-Korean border. She stated that propaganda loudspeakers aimed at South Korea will be operational within days.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim's warning followed her inspection of the North's border fortification work. She threatened military action against South Korean troops after they fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers crossing the border. Kim emphasized that the new measures would be on standby shortly and that the broadcasts would resume later this month.
Kim claimed that completing the fortifications would significantly reduce the risk of military conflict between the two Koreas. However, she warned that South Korea could face severe consequences if it made any mistakes, intentional or not. She also mentioned the deployment of new "firepower" units and tactical strike means to the border.
South Korea's military has reported no signs of North Korea deploying new weapon systems along the border. Capt. Jang Do-young, a spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), stated that only routine maintenance on front-line loudspeakers had been observed. The South's military continues to monitor the situation closely.
The South Korean defense ministry has called on North Korea to stop making baseless claims and to respond positively to efforts to bridge differences. Tensions have escalated following a land mine explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which injured three South Korean soldiers. The incident was attributed to North Korean antipersonnel mines, a claim that Pyongyang denies.
South Korea's defense ministry has pledged to respond decisively to further provocations, with JCS Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung instructing troops to act sternly against enemy provocations. Kim Yo-jong's statement also criticized Kim Byung-joo, a special presidential adviser for defense policy, for his remarks on North Korea's threats and provocations.