Kim Yo-jong of North Korea Dismisses DMZ Landmine Responsibility, Says "The Enemy Is Indeed the Enemy"

Lee's Will for Easing Tensions Mocked as "Highlight Scene of a Clown Show"

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, dismissed the South Korean government's claim that North Korea is responsible for the landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and its demand for an apology. She also mocked President Lee Jaemyung's announcement of further measures to ease military tensions, describing it as "the highlight scene of a clown show that is too precious to watch alone."

Kim Yo-jong, Director of the General Affairs Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on the 2nd, Kim referred to the South Korean government's investigation results and official stance on the landmine explosion, saying, "This is yet another serious conclusion we have drawn from Seoul’s latest self-made clown show," and went on, "The enemy is indeed the enemy."

Previously, the South Korean military determined that the landmine explosion in the DMZ was caused by a mine planted by North Korea and demanded an apology and responsible action from North Korea. In response, Kim criticized the South Korean government for identifying North Korea’s "covert and intentional mine planting" as the cause, saying, "They rushed to an absurd conclusion and issued an embarrassingly crude official statement," dismissing the demand for an apology as "utterly pathetic."

As for the reason North Korea is carrying out fortification work along the border, Kim claimed that it is intended to cut off contact with South Korea. She said, "Why do they imagine that we would do anything to get entangled with South Korea?" and added, "We do not permit even the smallest space or room in any form or manner to be entangled with or interact with South Korea."

She went on to state, "Seoul should stop their petty scheming and immediately halt these senseless actions aimed at tarnishing our country's image." Kim also objected to the South Korean government's use of the term 'provocation' in reference to North Korea, arguing, "When, in urgent situations like now, they shift the blame to others or accuse us of incidents like the recent drone attack orchestrated by Yoon Suk-yeol’s group and the current administration, that’s what can truly be called a 'provocation.'"

Kim also gave a negative response to President Lee’s remarks at the Armed Forces Day ceremony on October 1, in which he pledged to continue practical measures to reduce military tensions. She described Lee’s statement as "the highlight scene of a clown show that is too precious to watch alone," and added, "It seems that the second act of their self-made clown show has begun," further criticizing, "It appears they want to cast themselves as the righteous protagonist after having thrown everything into chaos."

Kim had previously released a statement on September 29 denying the South Korean military’s assessment that the DMZ landmine explosion was due to mines planted by North Korean soldiers, calling it a "self-created show." At that time, she also stated that if the South Korean military carried out live-fire drills targeting North Korea, they would retaliate and had issued response guidelines to border defense units.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.