Kim Yo-jong, a department director of North Korea's Workers' Party, dismissed Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's remarks demanding an apology over a landmine explosion and proposing to meet and communicate, calling them a "delusion not worth responding to and a unilateral rambling."

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported today (October 2) that Kim made the remarks while receiving a briefing on the work of the Ministry of National Defence's Bureau of External Military Affairs, stating, "Under no circumstances will we ever stand face-to-face with them."

Kim asserted, "Under no circumstances do we discuss military sovereignty issues with an enemy state. We do not determine borders through meetings, but draw our sovereign boundary line through the thorough exercise of sovereignty—namely, the use of force."

Kim continued, "Under no circumstances will we allow even the slightest room or opening that could raise the possibility of contact between the North and South," adding, "Meeting face-to-face with South Korea is a nightmare in itself."

Regarding the corresponding measures mentioned by the South Korean government, she added, "Whatever choice they make, we are prepared for everything."

Following a statement ridiculing President Lee Jae-myung's Armed Forces Day commemorative address, Kim Yo-jong issued two statements in succession today.

The relatively swift response is interpreted as a move to clearly underline that the landmine explosion incident will not lead to any inter-Korean contact or dialogue.

Earlier this morning, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young met with reporters at the Government Complex Seoul and proposed to North Korea that the two sides "meet and communicate," saying, "We must start communication to reaffirm and determine the line of the Military Demarcation Line once again."

Minister Chung previously stated that demanding an apology from North Korea is a matter of course.