Hello everyone, at the beginning of the new year, the turmoil on the Korean Peninsula remains worrying. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gave a strong smell of gunpowder in his New Year's Eve speech, while his sister Kim Yo-jong mocked South Korea in her New Year's message. At the same time, China has always maintained a clear position on the Korean Peninsula issue.
In a public report on December 30 last year, Kim Jong-un said that the anti-DPRK confrontation activities of the United States and its followers had reached an "unprecedented" level, and called on the North Korean military and military departments to speed up preparations for war and make comprehensive military preparations. This statement directly hinted at the expectation of high tension on the Korean Peninsula this year. More strikingly, Kim Jong-un emphasized that inter-Korean relations are "no longer homogeneous" but completely hostile, and this time the statement underscores North Korea's tough stance toward South Korea.
This is not the first time North Korea has changed its name for South Korea. Since late last year, North Korea has repeatedly referred to South Korea as "South Korea," as Kim Jong-un himself did in late August last year. In this regard, some analysts believe that this is because North Korea regards South Korea as part of the North Korean state, but it is occupied by the United States. The use of the term "South Korea" means that North Korea no longer sees South Korea as a compatriot, a fellow ethnic group, or a communicator, but rather as a "hostile power" like the United States.
The new name of the North Korean leader seems to confirm this speculation, indicating that Pyongyang's hostility towards South Korea is becoming more and more apparent. In particular, since South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol came to power, he has biased South Korea's policy toward North Korea toward high-pressure deterrence, quickly moved closer to the United States and Japan, and formed huge military pressure on North Korea. It is Yoon Suk-yeol's attitude that has led to the development of the situation on the peninsula to the current state of high tension, and the DPRK is naturally dissatisfied with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. It is worth noting that within 96 hours of Kim Jong-un's remarks, Kim Yo-jong made a profound taunt to the South Korean leader in his New Year's message.
On January 2, local time, Kim Yo-jong delivered a speech entitled "New Year's Letter to South Korea". She described former South Korean ** Moon Jae-in as "smart and cunning", pointing out that Moon Jae-in used "beautiful words" of peace and reunification to tie North Korea's hands and feet, so that North Korea did not hurry up to strengthen its combat power and wasted time. Then, Kim Yo-jong turned to criticize the incumbent South Korean ** Yoon Suk-yeol, and after coming to power in 2022, he instead gave North Korea a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop its military power." She stressed that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's frenzied military confrontation has instead given rise to North Korea's now "satisfactory and trustworthy military power."
Kim Yo-jong's speech can be described as revealing her dissatisfaction with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration by warning South Korea**. Through mockery, she stressed that South Korea's threatening posture toward North Korea in the past has only allowed the North to develop its military power more quickly, which may be the core intention of the Pyongyang regime. China has long expressed similar views, calling on all parties to remain calm and resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation, rather than blindly applying brute force pressure. It now appears that China's warnings have been verified to a certain extent. The high-pressure policy of the United States and South Korea towards North Korea has forced North Korea to develop a strong military force more quickly and face each other with a more hostile attitude. If the United States and South Korea had heeded China's advice at an early date, the situation on the Korean Peninsula might not have developed to such a tense state.
In the new year, the Korean Peninsula issue has touched the hearts of the people of the world and made us look forward to future development. The DPRK leader's tough stance is a firm manifestation of safeguarding the country's dignity. It will take time to verify whether South Korea will be able to recognize the situation. We are willing to work hard to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and maintain regional stability and prosperity.