“It would have been more favorable for his image to shut his mouth, rather than talking nonsense as he had nothing better to say.” Kim Yo Jong says to South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol
Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong refused the offer of help from the South Korean President by releasing a shocking and insulting statement.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol had offered economic aid to North Korea for nuclear disarmament. The help was first discussed by the President in May. It was proposed again at a news conference on Wednesday, held to mark his 100 days in office. Though the offer got shot down quickly by Kim Yo Jong, she even went as far as to say that the President had a “disingenuous and audacious plan.”
Yo Jong’s statement is the first time a North Korean official has refuted a South Korean President’s statement. Though, Kim Yo Jong did receive backlash from the South Korean Unification Minister. He called her statements “indecent as well as disrespectful.”
The South Korean Leader plans to help North Korea with denuclearisation on the condition that nuclear weapons development shall stop in the nation. The demand while being reasonable does not seem to resonate with the South Koreans.
South Korea has resumed military drills on its borders with the USA and Yoon has also pushed for nuclear deterrence against the North. The United States official department spokesperson says Washington is supportive of President Yoon’s policies and vision. But the activities engaged by both South Korea and the United States were also mentioned by Kim Yo Jong.
She commented that the joint drills show that the talk of diplomacy by the allies is lacking sincerity.
In recent years, Kim seems to be playing the ‘bad cop’ as she has been pretty vocal about South Korea while her brother is more subdued in his statements. Last month, Kim also blamed the South for spreading Covid-19 to the North and threatened “severe consequences.”
The insulting statement on Friday was the most intolerant comment made by Kim.
Why the harsh response by Kim Yo Jong
Experts believe that President Yoon seems to be following the policies of his predecessors who have failed to establish a solid ground to communicate and discuss denuclearisation.
A senior at the Foreign relations council, Scott Snyder says that Yoon’s policies and statements reflect the failed state of South Korea’s longtime efforts to jumpstart denuclearisation talks.
North Korea also just recently declared triumph over the Covid-19 disaster in the country followed by a test firing of two cruise missiles into the sea. Kim also ridiculed South Korea’s military capabilities after they misread the launch site of the missiles.
Kim doubles down on her words
Kim Yo Jong is very vocal about the South’s move to make relations with the North. She says that any statement from the South’s side will only “enrage or incite rage” from North Korea. According to Kim, Pyongyang has no plans to revive the diplomatic relation with South Korea and the longest desire is to live without being aware of the south.
Inter-Korean Relations
Since 2019, the ties of both countries seem to have stretched thin. The bond had worsened after the negotiations between South Korea and the United States and the disagreements over the relaxation of sanctions on North Korea.
The provocations made by Kim Yo Jong’s threat can also result in border skirmishes or even a nuclear test.
Kim-Jong Un’s battle with Covid
Last week, Kim Yo Jong was relieved that her brother, Kim Jong-Un was severely ill after catching the coronavirus. Kim also praised the battle that her countrymen have fought against Covid. Kim calls the victory a historic event after the death toll in North Korea had dropped to a total of 74.
North Korea had earlier insisted that despite poor health infrastructure, there hadn’t been any recorded cases of Covid-19 for the first two years. Kim Yo Jong had been very hostile about South Korea in her statements and as stated earlier she had also blamed the Covid-19 epidemic in North on South Korea.
It is evident that if Kim Jong-Un is to ever step down as North Korea’s mighty leader then Kim Yo Jong is the most likely candidate for the new leader. Though her current statements and behavior are proving to be unprofessional in the diplomatic world.
As the politics around North and South continues to become even more complex, Kim Yo Jong’s leadership might not bode well for the South and its allies.
