SEOUL - Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, sharply criticized South Korea's recent resumption of live-fire artillery drills near the shared border, describing the actions as "suicidal hysteria" and hinting at potential military responses.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yo-jong expressed grave concerns over the South Korean military's activities, which she claims are escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. These exercises follow South Korea's decision to suspend a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing tensions, which prohibited such maneuvers. Kim's statement emphasized the perceived threat these drills pose, especially as they occur close to the North Korean border, and labeled them as reckless and provocative.
Kim also accused South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol of exacerbating the regional security situation to distract from domestic political challenges. She referenced a significant public outcry within South Korea, noting that over a million citizens have called for Yoon’s impeachment. The North Korean official warned that any actions deemed by Pyongyang to violate its sovereignty or to constitute a declaration of war could prompt immediate military retaliation, as mandated by the DPRK's constitution.