(John Ransom, Headline USA) Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korea’s dictator, called South Korea’s Defense Minister “a scum-like a guy,” and said the South faces “a serious threat” from North Korea.
“The senseless and scum-like guy dare mention a preemptive strike at a nuclear weapons state,” Kim Yo-jong said in a statement carried by state media, according to the UK’s Guardian. “South Korea may face a serious threat owing to the reckless remarks made by its defense minister.”
Kim was responding to comments by South Korea’s Defense Minister that South Korea has the ability to launch preemptive strikes against North Korea if the South detects that the North may fire missiles at South Korea, said Politico.
Pak Jong Chon, a Central Committee Secretary at North Korea’s only political party, also officially warned South Korea over the Defense Minister’s comments with Pak saying that “any slight misjudgment and ill statement rattling the other party under the present situation” could turn into an actual war.
April 3: Kim Yo Jong isses her first statement in over 6 mos. With typical class, she calls SK’s DefMin, who 2 days ago spoke of “preemptive strike” if there were signs of imminent NK missile attack, “scum-like guy” & “maniac” & issues a “serious threat.”
It’s a warning to Yoon pic.twitter.com/YWKqiBcmTl
— Sung-Yoon Lee (@SungYoonLee1) April 2, 2022
The get-tough rhetoric from South Korea’s Defense Ministry is unusual under the administration of President Moon Jae-in, according to Sky News.
Moon has pursued a more conciliatory policy towards North Korea than any of his predecessors.
As a dedicated progressive, Moon has steadfastly refused to criticize North Korea, including the North’s human rights violations, in order to keep their communist neighbors happy, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
However, Moon, who used to enjoy approval ratings at or near 8o percent, finds himself mired at 43 percent approval from South Korea voters and 51 percent disapproval, according to February polling provided by Statista.
Conservative Yoon Suk-yeol Won a bitterly fought election campaign for the presidency of South Korea in March by less than one percent of the vote, and will take office in May,” said the BBC.
The South Korean Defense Minister’s rhetoric in the meantime may signal a general shift in tone towards North Korea, which would not be unexpected given the change in government about to take place.
