In a statement broadcast by North Korean state media on Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong described South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook’s recent comments about preemptive strikes as “fantastic daydreaming” and “the hysteria of a madman.”
He stressed that North Korea did not want a new war on the Korean Peninsula, but warned that it would retaliate with nuclear weapons if the South chose pre-emptive strikes or other attacks that would leave the South Army “a little less than complete destruction and destruction.” .  “
North Korea has repeatedly said it would use its nuclear weapons as a precaution when threatened by its adversaries, as it accelerated the development of nuclear bombs and missiles, which Kim Jong Un sees as the strongest guarantee of its survival.
In another statement to Suh on Sunday, Kim Yoo-yong called him a “scum man” and warned that the South could face a “serious threat” because of his comments.
Her remarks come amid tensions over North Korea’s accelerated weapons tests this year, including the first intercontinental ballistic missile test since 2017, on March 24, as her brother revives nuclear weakness in order to pressure North as a nuclear power and remove the disabled.  sanctions.
Some experts say the North could take the lead in the coming months, possibly with test missiles over Japan or a resumption of nuclear test, as it seeks a response from the Biden government, which has been embroiled in a Russian-led invasion of Ukraine. the growing rivalry with China.
The renewed tensions were a major setback for outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a caring liberal who had bet his presidency on his ambitions for an intra-Korean rapprochement.
During a visit to the country’s strategic missile command last week, Su said South Korea has the capability and readiness to launch precision strikes on North Korea if it detects that the North intends to launch missiles at South Korea.
Seoul has long maintained such a pre-emptive strike strategy to counter North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats, but it was unusual for a Lunar government official to discuss it publicly.
“In the event that (South Korea) chooses a military confrontation with us, our nuclear combat force will inevitably have to do its job.  “Total disaster and disaster,” Kim said in a recent statement.
The South Korean government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  Seoul issued a low-key response after Kim’s previous comments on Sunday, urging Pyongyang to refrain from further escalation and return to dialogue.
Moon met with Kim Jong Un three times in 2018 and pushed hard to help organize Kim’s first summit with then-President Donald Trump in June of that year.
But diplomacy derailed after the second Kim-Trump meeting in 2019, when the Americans rejected North Korea’s demands for greater easing of sanctions in exchange for a limited surrender of its nuclear capabilities.
Since then, Kim has vowed to strengthen his nuclear forces and accelerate weapons development despite limited resources and pandemic-related difficulties.  North Korea has also suspended all inter-Korean cooperation, expressing its anger at US-South Korean military exercises and Seoul’s inability to extract concessions from Washington on its behalf.
Prior to the resumption of long-range tests last month, the North had spent most of the past three years expanding its arsenal of nuclear-capable short-range missiles threatening South Korea.
Experts say these missiles, which could potentially be armed with “tactical” nuclear weapons on the battlefield, convey the North’s threat to use smaller nuclear weapons even during conventional warfare to outnumber the stronger conventional forces. of South Korea and the USA.  to prevent North Korea’s aggression.
Moon’s term ends in May, when he will be replaced by conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, who could possibly follow a tougher line for Pyongyang.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said Biden’s special envoy to North Korea, Sung Kim, planned to meet with his Chinese counterpart in Washington to discuss the growing threat posed by the North.  China, Pyongyang’s main ally and economic pipeline, has repeatedly called for a relaxation of UN Security Council sanctions against the north, citing an economic tax on civilians.
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AP writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.