Kim Yo-jong Speaks Out Again: "Why Imagine We Would Get Entangled with South Korea?"

[Anchor]

North Korea's Kim Yo-jong has issued another statement, repeatedly denying responsibility for the landmine explosion on the western front. At the same time, she mocked President Lee Jae-myung, claiming he is trying to play a righteous leading role.

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong reports.

[Reporter]

Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of North Korea's Workers' Party of Korea, released another statement this afternoon, October 2, regarding the landmine explosion incident.

Regarding the South Korean military's interim investigation finding that pointed to a "North Korean landmine," she belittled it as "utterly pathetic," saying they concluded it was "covert and intentional landmine laying" and went so far as to demand an apology.

She continued by stating that the goal of the "border fortification" work is "to permanently close the door so as not to face South Korea, preventing even wild beasts from crossing," adding, "Why do you imagine we would do something to get entangled with South Korea?"

Having defined inter-Korean relations as "two hostile states" since 2023 and proclaimed a severance of ties with the South, she argued that there was no reason for them to go out of their way to plant landmines and stage a provocation.

[Hong Min / Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification: Having declared their intention not to deal with the South, they are virtually denying the incident itself in terms of motive, asserting that there is no reason for them (North Korea) to show deliberateness and intent.]

Regarding the remarks made by President Lee Jae-myung yesterday, October 1, at the Armed Forces Day ceremony,

[President Lee Jae-myung (Yesterday's Armed Forces Day Ceremony): We will consistently pursue practical measures to lower inter-Korean military tensions.]

Kim Yo-jong also sneered, calling it "the climax of a farce and part two of a self-produced farce," and added, "I hope he gains a lot of popularity acting out the 'righteous role.'"

The statement also appears to be a calculated move to cut off Seoul's conciliatory gestures, thereby completely shutting out any room for the South to intervene in future developments such as North Korea–U.S. dialogue.

Video by Kim Jong-mi | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jung
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.