Seoul voices 'grave concern' over Kim Yo Jong's loudspeaker warning, vows firm response
Version 2: Added the full story and corrected the significance note, with no change in the underlying news.
In short
South Korea's Defense Ministry said on 20 October it has grave concern over a 19 October statement by Kim Yo Jong, director of North Korea's Workers' Party General Affairs Department. She said Pyongyang is considering resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South and deploying more strike means. The ministry called its warning broadcasts and warning shots legitimate defensive measures and said it would punish any further provocation.
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South Korea's Defense Ministry said on 20 October that it expressed grave concern over a statement the previous day by Kim Yo Jong, director of North Korea's Workers' Party General Affairs Department. The ministry said she condemned the South Korean military's legitimate operations under the armistice and raised tension with military threats. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
In her statement of 19 October, issued in the evening and titled 'We do not talk about defending sovereignty in words', Kim said the situation on the southern border was very unstable. According to Newsis, she said North Korea's military leadership was reviewing, as a preemptive measure for any contingency, increasing the deployment of tactical strike means near the entire southern border line and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea. Kyunghyang Shinmun quoted her as saying other measures deemed necessary and suitable were also under consideration. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim criticised South Korea for responding with warning broadcasts and warning shots to violations of the military demarcation line (MDL) that occur during what it called North Korea's so-called border fortification work. [ 5 ]
The Defense Ministry said Kim had described the South Korean military's measures as acts that escalate the situation and had shifted responsibility for the tension to Seoul. It said the warning broadcasts and warning shots along the MDL are legitimate defensive measures to prevent North Korean troops from crossing the line and to drive back those who do. It said it would continue to respond consistently and on principle to North Korean violations of the armistice, and would sternly punish any additional provocation staged on the pretext of its legitimate measures. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The ministry also urged North Korea to stop what it called unreasonable claims and MDL violations and to respond to efforts to resolve the differences in mutual perception of the MDL. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Seoul Economic Daily reported that the Unification Ministry also responded, saying North Korean acts violating the armistice along the MDL must stop immediately. It said that for a fundamental solution to MDL-related tension and clashes, the two Koreas should align their positions on the MDL and set up a communication system for peaceful management as soon as possible, and it urged the North to respond actively. [ 3 ]
Chosun Ilbo added that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Yeong-seung visited the 5th Corps headquarters, which covers the central front, on 20 October and called Kim's statement unacceptable. Jin said North Korea had branded the South's legitimate operational measures as provocation and shifted responsibility for rising military tension to the South Korean military, and he ordered a firm response if further provocation occurs. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The exchange shows the two sides blaming each other for rising tension along the military demarcation line. The Unification Ministry said the two Koreas need to align their positions on the line and set up a way to communicate. The documents do not say whether North Korea will act on the measures it is considering.
Key facts
- The Defense Ministry said on 20 October it expressed grave concern that Kim Yo Jong had condemned the South Korean military's operations and raised tension with military threats. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim Yo Jong said in a statement on 19 October that the situation on the southern border is very unstable and that North Korea is considering resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Her statement also mentioned reviewing an increased deployment of tactical strike means near the southern border line. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Defense Ministry said the South's warning broadcasts and warning shots along the military demarcation line (MDL) are legitimate defensive measures to prevent North Korean troops from crossing the line and to drive back those who do. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The ministry said it would respond consistently to North Korean violations of the armistice and would punish any additional provocation staged on the pretext of its measures. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Unification Ministry said North Korean acts violating the armistice along the MDL must stop immediately. [ 3 ]
- Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Yeong-seung visited the 5th Corps headquarters on 20 October and called Kim's statement unacceptable, Chosun Ilbo reported. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Defense Ministry said on 20 October that it expressed grave concern over Kim Yo Jong's statement and called the South's warning broadcasts and warning shots along the MDL legitimate defensive measures. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Defense Ministry said it would sternly punish North Korea if it commits additional provocation using the South's measures as a pretext. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Defense Ministry urged North Korea to stop what it called unreasonable claims and MDL violations and to respond to efforts to resolve the differences in mutual perception of the MDL. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Kim Yo Jong said on 19 October that North Korea is reviewing resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether North Korea will resume loudspeaker broadcasts or deploy more strike means. Kim Yo Jong said only that these were being reviewed and considered; the documents report no decision.
- Who is responsible for the tension along the MDL. The Defense Ministry says North Korean troops cross the line and the South's measures are defensive; Kim Yo Jong, as quoted, blamed the South Korean military for creating the situation.
- How the two Koreas' positions on the MDL differ. The Defense Ministry referred to differences in mutual perception of the MDL and the Unification Ministry called for aligning the two sides' positions, but the documents give no detail.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis flashes the Defense Ministry's expression of grave concern over Kim Yo Jong's remarks. [ 1 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the ministry's statement and its quotes. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the statement together with the Unification Ministry's position. [ 3 ]
- Newsis publishes its full report on the ministry statement. [ 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the ministry statement and the Joint Chiefs chairman's visit to the 5th Corps headquarters. [ 5 ]
- SBS News reports the ministry's response to the North Korean statement. [ 6 ]