Ministry of Unification: "Carefully Analyzing Statements and Missiles for Response... Maintaining Evaluation of 'Kim Yo-jong's Statement'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Ministry of Unification has stated its intention to respond cautiously by thoroughly analyzing North Korea's recent statements and missile launches. However, it plans to maintain its existing assessment of the 'Kim Yo-jong statement.'

On the 28th, a Ministry of Unification official said in a briefing, "In cooperation with our military and related agencies, we will comprehensively and meticulously analyze not only today's missile launch but also the overall situation so far and respond accordingly."

Earlier, the Ministry of Unification had evaluated Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, statement on the 25th as 'meaningful,' but this assessment was undermined when North Korea launched a missile just three days after the statement.

Regarding this, the official explained, "The position of the Ministry of Unification at that time basically remains unchanged," adding, "The missile launch will be met with preparedness and necessary measures centered on the military, while on the other hand, we will evaluate the North Korean statement expressing dialogue and cooperation where appropriate."

The Ministry of Unification is also monitoring the situation, not ruling out the possibility that Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea, may deliver messages regarding South Korea and the United States at today's Supreme People's Assembly. A Ministry of Unification official said, "In the case of today's meeting, the agenda was announced when it was convened in August, and based on past practices, the likelihood of messages on foreign relations is relatively low," but added, "However, since there was a case in 2019 where General Secretary Kim delivered messages related to inter-Korean and U.S. relations in the form of a policy speech, the possibility is not entirely absent this time either."

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