Kim Yo Jong says North Korea to run loudspeakers on all border lines in October
In short
North Korean Workers' Party department director Kim Yo Jong said on 21 October that psychological-warfare loudspeakers aimed at South Korea will go into operation along all border lines within October. She cited warning broadcasts and warning shots by what she called armed gunmen at two places that day. In a further statement reported early on 22 October, she said loudspeakers would also be on standby within days.
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Kim Yo Jong, a Workers' Party department director, said on 21 October that psychological-warfare loudspeakers aimed at South Korea would go into operation along all border lines within October, according to KCNA. In a statement, she said 'our tactical hunting parties are taking up new positions' and that the loudspeakers would go into operation within October. [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 13 ]
She said armed gunmen had again carried out warning broadcasts and warning shots at at least two places that day, and described the loudspeaker step as 'the most justified measure and appropriate response'. Maeil Business added in brackets that the gunmen meant South Korean troops. Newsis said she was responding to the South Korean military's warning broadcasts and shots over crossings of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). [ 3 , 5 , 10 , 13 , 16 ]
She said that if North Korea fired warning shots back at the enemy, the border situation would worsen beyond imagination, and that North Korea was showing great restraint and preparing for any contingency. She added that if the enemy's warning-shot provocations went beyond a warning and harmed territorial or soldiers' safety, border soldiers would mercilessly dispose of 'armed thugs who have lost their reason'. Hankook Ilbo interpreted the remarks as groundwork for blaming the South if a clash occurs. [ 2 , 5 , 13 ]
KCNA had reported earlier on 21 October that Pak Jong Chon, a defence ministry adviser, toured the southern border fortification site on 20 October with Ri Il Hwan, Kim Yo Jong and army general staff commanders. Hankook Ilbo said Kim Yo Jong issued a statement about four hours later, at around 7pm, saying KCNA had misstated the date and that she went at dawn on 21 October. She said the border was clearly blocked and increasingly fortified, and that the head of state had stressed the border must become a permanent line. She said that once the border is permanent, the risk of military clashes in the area would be resolved. [ 2 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 13 , 16 ]
On 19 October Kim Yo Jong had said North Korea would consider resuming loudspeaker broadcasts, which had been halted for 1 year 4 months, citing South Korea's warning broadcasts and shots. Newsis and CBS NoCut News said North Korea stopped its broadcasts after the Lee Jae Myung government halted loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North. Maeil Business and CBS NoCut News reported that inter-Korean relations have been strained since a North Korean mine injured three South Korean soldiers south of the MDL on 21 September. South Korea's defence ministry said its warning broadcasts and shots were legitimate defensive measures to prevent and expel incursions across the MDL, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Yong-seung (진영승) ordered a firm response to any further provocation. [ 5 , 10 , 16 , 19 ]
Dong-A Ilbo said that if broadcasts resume at the border, tension would be at its highest since June last year. [ 21 ]
At 06:12 on 22 October, Yonhap reported a further statement from Kim Yo Jong. The headline said new response means on all border lines were on mission standby and loudspeakers would also be on standby within days. Asia Economy, Seoul Shinmun and Maeil Business carried the same headline. [ 29 , 30 , 33 , 34 ]
Why it matters
Dong-A Ilbo described the announcement as a hard-line step that puts inter-Korean relations at risk of returning to square one after 1 year 4 months. It said that, if broadcasts resume, tension between the two Koreas would rise to its highest since June last year.
Key facts
- Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by KCNA on 21 October that loudspeakers aimed at South Korea would go into operation along all border lines within October. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 13 , 15 ]
- She said 'armed gunmen' had again carried out warning broadcasts and warning shots at at least two places that day, and called the loudspeaker step 'the most justified measure and appropriate response'. [ 3 , 5 , 10 , 13 ]
- She warned that border soldiers would 'mercilessly dispose of' armed thugs if warning-shot provocations went beyond a warning and harmed territorial or soldiers' safety. [ 2 , 5 , 13 ]
- She corrected KCNA's earlier report that she toured the border fortification site on 20 October, saying she went at dawn on 21 October. [ 2 , 5 , 13 , 16 ]
- On 19 October she had said North Korea would consider resuming loudspeaker broadcasts. [ 5 , 16 , 19 ]
- At 06:12 on 22 October, Yonhap reported a further statement in which she said new response means on all border lines were on mission standby and loudspeakers would also be on standby within days. [ 29 , 30 , 33 , 34 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Yo Jong said on 21 October that loudspeakers aimed at South Korea would be operating along all border lines within October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 13 , 15 ]
- KCNA first reported that Kim Yo Jong and Pak Jong Chon toured the southern border fortification site on 20 October; she later said the visit took place at dawn on 21 October and that KCNA had misstated the date. [ 2 , 5 , 8 , 13 , 16 ]
- She called the loudspeaker step 'the most justified measure and appropriate response' and said armed gunmen carried out warning broadcasts and warning shots at at least two places that day. [ 3 , 5 , 10 , 13 ]
- On 21 September, a mine laid by North Korea south of the Military Demarcation Line injured three South Korean soldiers, and inter-Korean relations have been strained since, according to Maeil Business and CBS NoCut News. [ 10 , 19 ]
Still unclear
- Whether and when the loudspeakers will actually begin broadcasting. The statements are announcements of intent; the 22 October statement says loudspeakers will be on standby within days, and no document reports broadcasts having started.
- What happened at the border on 21 October. Only Kim Yo Jong's account of warning broadcasts and shots at two places is given; no document in this set carries a South Korean military account for that day.
- Details of the 22 October statement. The documents carry only the headline of the report that new response means on all border lines were on mission standby and loudspeakers would be on standby within days.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kim Yo Jong reportedly visited the western front on 21 October, according to Dong-A Ilbo. [ 28 ]
- Kim Yo Jong issues a statement correcting the date of her border visit and announcing loudspeakers on all border lines in October. [ 5 ]
- Yonhap flashes the announcement. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes a roundup saying North Korea announced loudspeaker broadcasts on all border lines within the month. [ 23 ]
- Yonhap reports on 22 October that Kim Yo Jong said new response means were on standby and loudspeakers would be on standby within days. [ 29 ]