Kim Yo Jong says North Korea weighs more strike means near border, loudspeaker broadcasts
In short
Kim Yo Jong, a director of the Workers' Party of Korea and sister of Kim Jong Un, said on 19 October that North Korea is considering deploying more "tactical attack means" near its border with South Korea and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts. She called South Korean warning shots and broadcasts a provocation. South Korea's defence ministry and Joint Chiefs of Staff rejected that on 20 October.
Read the full story 3 min read
Kim Yo Jong, director of the Workers' Party of Korea General Affairs Department and sister of General Secretary Kim Jong Un, said on 19 October that North Korea is considering deploying more tactical attack means near its southern border and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea. KCNA carried the statement, according to Jiji Press, the Mainichi Shimbun and the Asahi Shimbun. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
According to the Mainichi, Kim Yo Jong claimed that between August and 17 October South Korea's military made about 2,870 loudspeaker warnings and 201 warning shots near the line. She said the border situation is extremely unstable. She also said the government of President Lee Jae-myung, which seeks dialogue with North Korea, was acting more confrontationally than the conservative government of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, and warned it would "bring great calamity upon itself". Yomiuri quoted her as calling the situation a serious escalation and saying South Korea would face a crisis it could not handle. [ 4 , 6 ]
North Korea is fortifying the area near the military demarcation line, and Jiji said it treats the line as a "border". Jiji, the Asahi and Yomiuri reported that North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed into South Korean territory during the work and that South Korea has responded with warning shots and warning broadcasts. Kim Yo Jong called the South Korean actions a provocation and, according to the Asahi, called the crossings a groundless accusation. Yomiuri said the work on the North's side of the line includes laying mines. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said on 20 October that the labelling of its measures as provocation and the shifting of responsibility for rising tension onto its forces were unacceptable, and instructed forces to respond firmly if the enemy makes additional provocations, the Asahi reported. The defence ministry expressed grave concern and urged North Korea to stop violating the line. Yomiuri quoted the ministry as saying warning shots are a legitimate defensive measure. Yomiuri added that in September a mine exploded on the South's side of the demilitarised zone and injured three South Korean soldiers; South Korea identified it as a North Korean mine and sought an apology, while North Korea called it staged. [ 5 , 6 ]
On 21 October North Korean media reported that Kim Yo Jong visited fortification sites with senior officials including defence ministry adviser Pak Jong Chon. TBS, citing KCNA, said the group checked progress on work to make the border permanent and encouraged soldiers, and that the adviser said the border must be turned into a strong fortress and that provocation from South Korea must be met with overwhelming military action. Kim Yo Jong said Kim Jong Un ordered that there be no concession in defending territorial sovereignty and that the border be made the most permanent line. Nippon TV reported that she toured the site in the early hours of 21 October, whereas TBS gave the date as 20 October. [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
Nippon TV's cameras filmed repeated explosions on the North Korean side from Ganghwa County in South Korea on 20 October. The network said similar blasts have occurred for several months and are believed to be linked to road and iron fence work to carry supplies for the fortification. [ 7 ]
Why it matters
The exchange follows repeated crossings of the military demarcation line by North Korean troops working on border fortifications, and South Korean warnings and warning shots in response. Outlets describe continuing tension along the line, and both sides have said they will respond to further moves.
Key facts
- On 19 October Kim Yo Jong, director of the Workers' Party of Korea General Affairs Department, issued a statement via KCNA saying North Korea is considering deploying more tactical attack means near the border with South Korea and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- She claimed South Korea's military carried out about 2,870 loudspeaker warnings and 201 warning shots near the line between August and 17 October. [ 4 ]
- North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the military demarcation line into South Korean territory while working on fortifying the border area; South Korea has responded with warning shots and warning broadcasts. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- South Korea's defence ministry said on 20 October that warning shots are a legitimate defensive measure and that it would respond firmly to any additional provocation. [ 6 ]
- KCNA reported that Kim Yo Jong accompanied defence ministry adviser Pak Jong Chon and other senior officials on a visit to fortification work sites north of the line. [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Yo Jong said in a 19 October statement carried by KCNA that North Korea is considering deploying more tactical attack means near the border and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- North Korea is fortifying the area near the military demarcation line, and its troops have repeatedly crossed into South Korean territory during the work; South Korea has responded with warning shots and broadcasts. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Kim Yo Jong called the South Korean warning shots and broadcasts a provocation. [ 3 , 5 ]
- North Korean media reported that Kim Yo Jong visited fortification work sites near the military demarcation line with defence ministry adviser Pak Jong Chon. [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- South Korea's defence ministry rejected her statement and said it would respond firmly to additional provocation. [ 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- When Kim Yo Jong made the site visit. Nippon TV reports she toured the site in the early hours of 21 October, while TBS, citing KCNA, says the visit was on 20 October.
- Whether South Korea has announced a resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts this month. Nippon TV's report mentions warning shots and warning broadcasts on 21 October and a notice of loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts resuming this month, but its wording does not make clear who made the claim or the announcement; no other document says this.
- Whether North Korea has decided to deploy more strike means or resume loudspeaker broadcasts. Kim Yo Jong said only that these steps are being considered.
- Who is responsible for the September mine blast in the demilitarised zone. Yomiuri reports South Korea identified the mine as North Korean and sought an apology, while North Korea called it staged.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 19 October, Tokyo Shimbun publishes a report on Kim Yo Jong's statement; other outlets follow through the evening. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- On 20 October, Yomiuri reports South Korea's defence ministry rejecting the statement, saying warning shots are a legitimate defensive measure. [ 6 ]
- On 21 October, Nippon TV reports that North Korean media said Kim Yo Jong inspected a fortification site, and that its cameras filmed explosions on the North Korean side on 20 October. [ 7 ]
- On 21 October, Nikkei reports KCNA saying defence ministry adviser Pak Jong Chon and others, with Kim Yo Jong, inspected fortification sites. [ 8 ]
- On 21 October, NHK reports on the site visit. [ 10 ]