South Korea has been threatened with devastating action by North Korea. Is North Korea preparing to attack South Korea?
North Korea’s top leader has threatened to use nuclear weapons to eliminate South Korea in a speech that is jarring to the senses. Suddenly, Kim Yo-Jung made threatening remarks about the incoming regime in the South after it signaled it would take a much harsher line against the isolated nation.
Is North Korea preparing to attack South Korea?
According to Yo-jong, North Korea has no intention of starting a second Korean war, but would respond if provoked.
In her words, “If even a single inch of our land was injured by the South Korean army, it would trigger a catastrophe we could never have imagined.
“In that case, South Korea itself will become a target.”
She continued: “In case South Korea opts for a military confrontation with us, our nuclear combat force will have to inevitably carry out its duty.”
She said the “primary mission” for her country’s nuclear forces was to act as a deterrent, but if an armed conflict were to break out, such weapons will be used for “eliminating the enemy’s armed forces at a strike”.
Kim Yo-Jong also threatened South Korea with “little short of total destruction and ruin”. Incredibly, in the same breath, North Korea’s number two also said she was opposed to war.
What has caused this war of words?
The recent weapons tests conducted by the North have caused tensions between the two Korean states.
During the five-year term of President Moon Jae-in, Seoul has pursued a policy of engagement with Pyongyang.
Besides helping facilitate high-level summits between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, the South has also reduced the North’s objection to joint US military exercises.
However, diplomacy between the two collapsed in 2019.
The Biden administration has shown little interest in reviving denuclearisation talks unless they result in the proven dismantling of the North’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
But President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will soon take over in South Korea, and has vowed to take a considerably harder line with the North.
Read also: Biden has forgiven almost $20 billion in student loan debt.
Most recently, South Korea’s defence minister, Suh Wook, publicly discussed Seoul’s ability to “accurately and quickly hit any target in North Korea” with a range of weapons.
In another statement directed toward Suh on Sunday, Yo-jong called him a “scum-like guy”.
Who is Kim Yo-jong?
Kim Yo-Jong is the sister of North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un.
She holds several senior positions in the government and ruling party.
Little is known about her otherwise due to the isolated nature of North Korea, but she is widely believed to be second in command to her brother.
