North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, publicly and directly criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. He warned that if the enemies ignore our repeated warnings and attempt to use force that infringes upon the sovereignty of our Republic, we will unhesitatingly use all striking power, including nuclear weapons.
Kim’s remarks, reported by Rodong Sinmun on Friday, came during his inspection of a special operations training base on Wednesday. His statement appeared to be a direct response to Yoon’s Armed Forces Day speech on October 1, in which Yoon warned that any use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would lead to the collapse of its regime.
Kim criticized Yoon’s speech, stating, “Yoon Suk Yeol, the puppet, consistently read a lengthy speech driven by an obsession against the Republic and a sense of victimization toward our Republic.”
He further rebuked Yoon’s emphasis on an “overwhelming response” and claimed that South Korea and its U.S. ally were the actual threats to regional stability and peace.
“He spoke of overwhelming military responses at the doorstep of a nuclear-armed nation, leading one to question his sanity,” Kim said, underscoring that North Korea’s nuclear capabilities are now “irreversible” and that any military conflict would result in the annihilation of Seoul and the Republic of Korea.
This public condemnation marks the first time Kim has directly criticized President Yoon in nearly two years. The last instance was in July 2022, when Kim harshly rebuked Yoon during a speech on the Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War, calling Yoon’s actions “indecent” and full of “bravado.”
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, who serves as Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party, also weighed in, dismissing the display of South Korea’s B-1B strategic bombers and Hyunmoo-5 missiles during the Armed Forces Day event as “ridiculous” in the face of North Korea’s nuclear strength.
During Kim’s inspection, high-ranking military officials accompanied him, including Chief of General Staff Ri Yong Gil, Deputy Chief of General Staff Kim Yong Bok, Deputy Chief of General Staff, and Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau Ri Chang Ho. During the inspection, Kim observed the training of various special operations units. Rodong Sinmun reported that they can strike the enemy’s heart and accomplish combat objectives when assigned tasks in emergencies.
In the released photos, North Korean soldiers conducted drop training, building infiltration exercises, and training to break bricks and wood. These activities appear to be part of infiltration training targeting South Korea. Kim stated that the homeland becomes even stronger with brave soldiers who can confidently face any form of war, and the special operations forces will be the core capability of the Republic’s war deterrence and combat execution.
Most Commented