KJU's sister calls South Korean defense minister 'scum-like guy'

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, lashed out at the South Korean defense minister for comments about preemptive strikes against Pyongyang, reports NPR.

The comments came amid tensions between the two Koreas over the north’s increasingly numerous weapons tests.

Recently, North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile on March 24 capable of reaching the east coast of the United States – its first ICBM test in four years. The U.S. called the incident a “brazen violation” of the U.N. Security Council resolution that “needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the nation.”

South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook visited the country’s strategic missile command on Friday, where he said that South Korea had the ability and readiness to launch precision strikes against North Korea if it detects any missiles directed at South Korea.

NPR notes that Seoul has long maintained a preemptive strategy, but it was highly unusual for a senior official to publicly discuss it.

Kim Yo-jong publicly responded on Sunday through North Korean state media, blasting the minister for his carelessness.

"The senseless and scum-like guy dare mention a 'preemptive strike' at a nuclear weapons state," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement. "South Korea may face a serious threat owing to the reckless remarks made by its defense minister."

"South Korea should discipline itself if it wants to stave off disaster," she added.

According to South Korean intelligence, Kim Yo-jong is the second-in-command of North Korea’s communist regime behind her brother. She is a senior official in the ruling Workers’ Party and in charge of relations with Seoul and Washington, according to NPR.

Experts say that Kim Yo-jong’s comments likely foreshadow another significant military test.

“Similar to how Moscow and Beijing try to gaslight the world that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is somehow the fault of NATO, Pyongyang will blame its nuclear and missile advancements on the U.S.-South Korea alliance,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ehwa University in Seoul.

The administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in pushed hard for reconciliation between the two countries. His five-year term will end in May, when he will be replaced by Yoon Suk-yeol, a conservative who has vowed to take a harder line on Pyongyang.