Earlier this week North Korea announced it would cut off all government and military communications with the South, also as its foreign ministry declared Pyongyang would "never again" allow President Trump to use 'empty' dialogue to score political points, suggesting the whole prior year long Trump-Kim bromance is now effectively dead.
And now the increasingly visible and powerful sister of Kim Jong Un has further gone on the offensive by threatening military action against South Korea Saturday.
Kim Yo Jong vowed “We will soon take a next action.” Referencing her brother, she described, “By exercising my power authorized by the Supreme Leader, our Party and the state, I gave an instruction to the arms of the department in charge of the affairs with enemy to decisively carry out the next action,” according to KCNA news agency.
“The right to taking the next action against the enemy will be entrusted to the General Staff of our army. Before long, a tragic scene of the useless north-south joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen,” Kim Yo Jong added.
The widely reported "reason" behind the sudden jingoistic stance is related to activists apparently continuing to defy the north in floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.
Such activism has been particularly sensitive to the north because it's driven in many cases by defectors. Lately Pyongyang's angry rhetoric against South Korea welcoming and hosting such defectors and their political activism has intensified.
But there's also rising tensions given Seoul's failed to materialize assurances that Washington would ease sanctions as part of denuclearization talks. This further appears an opportunity for Kim's increasingly visible and powerful sister to flex her authority over the military and next in line to rule.
THREAD: Kim Yo Jong's warning this evening is v. worrying.
On Monday I wrote that the DPRK wants to create an inter-Korean crisis.
Well, in two days it's June 15, the 20th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit.
I strongly suspect something is being timed to coincide.
On Monday I wrote that the DPRK wants to create an inter-Korean crisis.
Well, in two days it's June 15, the 20th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit.
I strongly suspect something is being timed to coincide.
Some analysts also believe Kim Jong Un is looking to rapidly manufacture an inter-Korean crisis for much bigger leverage amid stalled and effectively dead talks with the US. Importantly June 15, a mere two days away, will mark the 20th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit.
Thus we are likely to see some big provocative fireworks in the form of some drastic action or weapon test, sure to re-trigger soaring tensions by Monday.
The Trump-Kim bromance which held the potential for a historic breakthrough toward lasting peace and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula may have run its course. A top Pyongyang official now says there's "little reason" to maintain ties.
"North Korea sees little use maintaining a personal relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump if Washington sticks to hostile policies, state media reported on Friday - the two-year anniversary of the leaders’ first summit," Reuters reports of the surprisingly frank remarks.
Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in statements reported by state news agency KCNA that Pyongyang is growing tired of what it sees as mere political point scoring from the US administration, with nothing actually changing for North Korea.
“Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns,”Ri said. “Nothing is more hypocritical than an empty promise.”
He charged that the US continued to talk regime change and preemptive strike even as it touted its dialogue and 'openings' with Kim Jong-Un.
“The U.S. professes to be an advocate for improved relations with the DPRK, but in fact, it is hell-bent on only exacerbating the situation,” Ri continued.
The administration has yet to respond to these latest comments Friday, but it comes as the prospect for resumption of nuclear talks, which remain stalled since the end of last year, appear as bleak as ever.
On Thursday a State Dept. spokesperson only said it is open to a “flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement” with regard to North Korea.
But all this is alarming for the short term, also a moment the Pentagon is seeking to place missiles near China among US allies - though so far it's not getting many takers. No doubt it means that after a series of short and medium range NK missile tests this year alone, North Korea is almost certain to restart its long range missile program, and likely nuclear testing as well.
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