Kim Yo Jong Hints at 'New Response Means' on Standby Along Entire Border

Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Workers' Party of Korea, stated in remarks carried by the Korean Central News Agency on the 22nd that new response means will enter standby status along the entire border. Director Kim also announced that loudspeakers targeting South Korea would be placed on standby within days.

KCNA explained that the statement was a rebuttal to comments made on the 21st by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-ju (special defense policy adviser to the president). On the 21st, the lawmaker wrote on social media, regarding North Korea's announcement of plans to operate loudspeakers aimed at the South, that it was "the pot calling the kettle black," saying "North Korea must immediately apologize for and take responsibility for its provocations against the South."

In her remarks on the 22nd, Director Kim argued that the tactics of those who "bring on an accident shrouded in suspicion, shed blood, and then shift the blame onto others" by invoking the measure taken against them were nothing but baseless claims. She went on to say that "one can read the weakness and ineptitude of the Lee Jae-myung government," adding that "the so-called special defense policy adviser should stop spouting nonsense and shut his mouth at once."

Earlier, in remarks on the 21st, Director Kim had announced plans to operate loudspeakers targeting the South along the entire border sometime in October. That same day, she inspected the fortification work site on the southern border together with National Defense Minister adviser Pak Jong Chon. KCNA initially reported the inspection as taking place on the 20th, but following a correction by Director Kim, the inspection is known to have taken place in the early hours of the 21st.