Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said on Thursday that Pyongyang has never removed its border propaganda loudspeakers and will not do so, calling South Korea’s belief that the North was responding to peace gestures a pipedream.
Kim, a senior official in the ruling Workers’ Party, also dismissed as futile adjustments to planned U.S.–South Korea military drills, saying they did not change the allies hostile intent.
Her comments came after Seoul’s military reported detecting moves by the North to dismantle some loudspeakers along the border. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it stood by its assessment but cautioned against taking Pyongyang’s statements at face value.
Kim reiterated that North Korea would not engage in talks with Washington, calling speculation to the contrary false suppositions. Analysts said Pyongyang may be pacing its response to South Korean overtures while reinforcing Kim Jong Un’s vow to cut ties with Seoul.