Kim Yo Jong Mocks Chung Dong-young's Call for an Apology as "Ridiculous," Rejects MDL Dialogue

[Financial News] Kim Yo Jong, director of the General Affairs Department of North Korea's Workers' Party, rejected on the 2nd a proposal by Chung Dong-young, minister of the Ministry of Unification (MOU), to hold inter-Korean talks to prevent clashes along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). She also ruled out the need for North Korea to apologize over the mine explosion incident.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim made the remarks while receiving a report on the work of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ministry of National Defense's Bureau of External Military Affairs.
Kim dismissed Chung's proposal earlier that day to communicate with North Korea to verify and measure the MDL in connection with the mine explosion in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), calling it "a delusion and one-sided rambling not even worth responding to."
She continued, "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea does not discuss matters of military sovereignty with an adversarial state under any circumstances. We do not establish the border through talks; rather, we draw our sovereign boundary through the thorough exercise of sovereignty—in other words, through the use of force."
She added, "We will not allow even the slightest room or opening for the possibility of contact between the North and South to arise, and under no circumstances will we engage in it. Any face-to-face encounter with South Korea is itself a nightmare. This is a conclusion drawn from our ample experience in the past."
Kim also reacted angrily to Chung's statement that North Korea should be asked to apologize for the mine explosion, saying, "There could be nothing more ridiculous."
Kim also said she was well aware that President Lee Jae Myung and his aides were working to establish channels of communication between the two Koreas, adding that this was "the background, theme and true intent behind the creation of this self-staged farce."
Regarding South Korea's corresponding measures, Kim dismissed them, saying, "Whatever choices they make, we are prepared for everything."
Chung, who returned early from a trip to Europe, told reporters as he arrived for work at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that "resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea would be irresponsible and extremely dangerous," expressing his opposition.
South Korea's conservative opposition bloc has demanded the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea as a corresponding measure after a North Korean mine explosion on the western front on the 21st left three South Korean service members moderately to seriously injured.
Chung said, however, "It is only natural to demand an apology (from North Korea)," adding that coordination among ministries would take place. South Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has already demanded an apology from North Korea, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is considering sending a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to seek an apology from Pyongyang. MOFA said the previous day that inter-ministerial consultations would be needed to send the letter, drawing attention to the MOU's position.
Chung argued that the MDL must be clearly established to prevent such an incident from recurring. He emphasized, "The core cause is the MDL issue," and stressed that the two Koreas must meet to verify it.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter