North Korea's Kim Yo Jong ramps up threats amid U.S. naval show
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, announced an intensification of actions threatening the security of their enemies at a strategic level. According to the Yonhap agency, the authorities in Seoul described these comments as "reckless".
In her speech, quoted by government media in Pyongyang, Kim Yo Jong criticised the arrival of the American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson at the port in Busan on 2 March. She also referenced the presence of American nuclear submarines in the region and joint military exercises conducted by the USA with Japan and South Korea.
Kim Yo Jong stated that Washington's actions are an attempt to "intimidate and put pressure" on North Korea. She believes the US policy provides North Korea with "sufficient justification" to bolster its nuclear deterrent measures.
Statement by Kim Yo Jong
Kim Yo Jong warned that North Korea would be compelled to "resume the record of enforcing strategic deterrence" if the USA continues to demonstrate its military strength.
An unnamed official from South Korea's Ministry of Unification emphasised that this statement is an element of Pyongyang's "typical threats".
Kim Yo Jong, the youngest daughter of the late leader Kim Jong Il, is the deputy director of a department in the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. She is seen as her brother's closest confidante and adviser on foreign policy issues, and her statements are often considered to reflect the stance of the North Korean leader.
The Yonhap agency highlights that Kim Jong is sometimes called "the most powerful woman of the regime" and "a rising star of North Korea." Some experts deem her "the most dangerous woman in the world." The authorities in Seoul considered her recent remarks "reckless."
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