North Korea Mocks South Korean Defense Minister: "Wielding Weapons Like Discarded Scrap Iron"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 7th, North Korea strongly criticized South Korean military officials, including Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop, saying they are "recklessly engaging in war confrontation provocations from the very beginning of the new year."

The North Korean external weekly magazine Tongil Sinbo, in an article titled "The Terminal Symptoms of Those Afflicted with the Disease of Confrontation," pointed out, "The person called the Defense Minister started with harsh words like 'We must not hesitate to respond strongly,' and then the heads of the military, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Army Chief of Staff, successively advocated 'maintaining operational readiness,' urging their subordinates on."

This is interpreted as referring to Minister Lee Jong-seop's remarks on New Year's Day during an emergency commanders' meeting attended by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commanders of each military operation, stating, "If North Korea carries out a direct provocation, we must not hesitate to respond firmly and strongly within the scope of self-defense."

Tongil Sinbo also mentioned that on the 2nd, the Joint Chiefs of Staff established the "Nuclear and WMD Response Headquarters," which will later develop into the Strategic Command, to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and that on the same day, the Marine Corps 1st Division conducted training at its base in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, deploying 17 Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAV).

It added, "It is like a cornered dog barking louder," and said, "In the face of the Republic's increasingly advanced military strength, even the American overlord trembles and looks for a way out, yet these American lackeys, mere cannon fodder, brandish discarded scrap iron weapons and put on a ridiculous show of bravado, which is truly laughable."

Furthermore, it threatened, "The reckless provocations of the South Korean warmongers from the beginning of the year reveal in detail their criminal plot to disrupt the year with a northern invasion war frenzy, just like last year," and warned, "The traitorous faction of Yoon Seok-yeol must now clearly recognize who they are dealing with and act with discernment."

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