North Korea: "The Liaison Office Explosion Is Only Step 1... Could Surpass Imagination"

Rodong Sinmun Warns of Stronger Additional Measures
However, No Response to Previous Day's Government Warning
Choson Sinbo: "North Korea's Retaliation Depends on South Korea's Actions"

On the afternoon of the 16th, North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office building within the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The Ministry of National Defense released footage captured by South Korean military surveillance equipment on the same afternoon.
The upper photo shows the area around the inter-Korean joint liaison office within the Kaesong Industrial Complex, viewed from the Dora Observatory in Paju in May 2019. The lower photo, released by the Ministry of National Defense, shows flames rising after North Korea detonated the liaison office, confirming damage to all facilities of the liaison office as well as the surrounding buildings.

North Korea warned again on the 18th that it could take even stronger additional measures just two days after blowing up the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office. However, it did not respond to the South Korean government's strong warning against North Korea the previous day. Unlike the 'verbal bomb relay' that followed the consecutive release of statements from Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, the spokesperson of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, Jang Kum-chol, head of the United Front Department, and a commentary from the Korean Central News Agency on the 17th, North Korea appears to be moderating its pace somewhat.

The Workers' Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, stated in a political commentary article titled "Demonstration of the Most Thorough and Ruthless Punitive Will" on the 18th that "(the destruction of the liaison office) is only the beginning" and claimed, "The successive thunderous sounds of justice that will erupt could far exceed the imagination of those who babble about the course of events."

The newspaper emphasized, "The self-restraint of our military has exceeded its limits," and "The military's announcement that specific military action plans are being reviewed should be taken seriously."

The General Staff of the Korean People's Army, through a spokesperson's announcement the previous day, forecasted military deployment in the Mount Kumgang tourism zone and Kaesong Industrial Complex, advancement of posts in the Demilitarized Zone, military exercises in border areas, and leaflet drops targeting the South.

North Korea continued to blame the South for the deterioration of inter-Korean relations and criticized the South.

The newspaper described the leaflet drops as a "de facto declaration of war" and questioned, "Who is it that has betrayed trust and promises like a discarded rag, and arrogantly tries to pin the responsibility for the situation they caused onto us?"

It further denounced the South as "cowardly, weak, and despicable," stating that inter-Korean relations can no longer be discussed and that there is no need for contact spaces between the two Koreas.

However, unlike the previous day, no high-level verbal attacks against the South through consecutive statements from major authorities were made on the morning of the 18th.

Although the Blue House had unusually harshly criticized Kim Yo-jong's statement the previous day as having a "rude tone" and being an "unreasonable act," North Korea did not respond at all. Some speculate that North Korea might be taking a breather before the two Koreas escalate into a 'strong versus strong' confrontation.

Meanwhile, the Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan representing North Korea's position, claimed that North Korea's retaliatory measures would vary depending on the South's future actions and responses.

In an article titled "Crisis Caused by the Incompetent and Inept South Korean Authorities" published that day, the newspaper stated, "The intensity and timing of Korea's successive anti-South actions will be determined by the conduct and behavior of the South Korean authorities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.