North Korea Warns Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo: "A Frightened Dog Barks the Loudest"

On the morning of the 24th, the loudspeaker for propaganda aimed at South Korea, which had been installed until yesterday on the mid-slope of a mountain in Kaepung County, Hwanghaebuk-do, North Korea, as seen from the Peace Observatory in Ganghwa County, Incheon, has been removed.

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Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, warned Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo on the 24th to exercise restraint after emphasizing readiness against the South.

In a statement released that evening, Vice Chairman Kim said, "Due to the untimely remarks of the South Korean 'Ministry of National Defense,' a greater crisis must not arise in inter-Korean relations," adding, "They must understand that restraint is the 'key' to overcoming the crisis," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

Vice Chairman Kim stated, "At the preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party, the military action plans against the South proposed by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army were put on hold, and a series of ongoing actions against the South were suspended."

He continued, "At this point, when the future prospects of inter-Korean relations can be predicted depending on the attitude and actions of the South Korean authorities, I cannot help but express great regret over the frivolous and foolish behavior of the South Korean 'Ministry of National Defense' minister, who, seizing the opportunity to save face, made unnecessary boastful remarks," he said.

Kim Young-chul, Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of North Korea

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Vice Chairman Kim referred to Minister Jeong's statement at the National Assembly that day, saying, "North Korea said it would suspend military actions against the South, but they must be completely withdrawn," and pointed out, "I cannot help but warn that this was a very frivolous act."

He said, "If they intended to boast that their thorough 'crisis monitoring efforts' and 'military readiness' contributed to guaranteeing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, it was a very poor and inappropriate attempt."

Vice Chairman Kim emphasized, "At some point, we described the reckless behavior of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense as a scared dog barking louder. To avoid using such harsh expressions again in our official statements on the South, we must think and act wisely," he stressed.

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