North Korea has continued its provocative actions by firing artillery shells near the disputed sea boundary with South Korea for the third consecutive day. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, issued a threatening statement, warning of an immediate military strike in response to any provocation. She even mocked South Korea’s ability to detect weapons launches.
South Korea’s Response and Joint Chiefs of Staff Statement
In response to the artillery firings, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly urged North Korea to cease its provocative acts. They reported that Pyongyang had fired more than 90 rounds near the disputed western sea boundary on Sunday, following over 60 rounds on Saturday and more than 200 shells launched a day earlier. South Korea warned of an overwhelming and stern response if the provocations persist.
Mocking Seoul’s Detection Capabilities
Kim Yo Jong mocked Seoul’s ability to detect weapons launches, stating that North Korea had detonated blasting powder to simulate the sound of coastal artillery. She claimed that South Korea misjudged the sound as gunfire and made false statements about the shells’ landing location. Jong criticized South Korea’s security measures and suggested that entrusting security to them was akin to relying on blind individuals.
Seoul’s Firing Exercises and Maritime Buffer Zone
In response to North Korea’s actions, Seoul conducted its own firing exercises. The artillery shells from both nations fell within a maritime buffer zone established in a 2018 military agreement aimed at easing front-line tensions. Experts believe that North Korea might escalate weapons tests and rhetoric ahead of South Korea’s parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential elections in November.
Jong Labels South Korea’s Military as “Gangsters” and “Clowns”
Kim Yo Jong went further to label South Korea’s military as “gangsters” and “clowns in military uniforms.” She expressed concerns about potential miscalculations leading to accidental clashes between the two rivals, jeopardizing the safety of Seoul, a city with a population of 10 million located just an hour’s drive from the land border. Last week, Jong issued statements characterizing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as “foolishly brave” and his predecessor Moon Jae-in as “very smart.”
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