Amid escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula, Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s influential sister, issued a veiled threat of retaliation on Friday. This came after South Korean activists launched balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border.
Following a recent pact between Moscow and Pyongyang for mutual defense assistance, regional tension increased when Seoul announced it would consider supplying arms to Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion. South Korea’s military also reported firing warning shots at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the border due to a mistake.
Leafleting campaigns by South Korean activists prompted psychological warfare along the inter-Korean border. Pyongyang resents such material, fearing it could weaken Kim Jong Un’s grip on power. Kim Yo Jong referred to the activists as “defector scum” and hinted at retaliation.
Tensions have heightened as Kim accelerates nuclear development and aligns with Putin against the West. South Korea, considering support for Ukraine, is met with opposition from Putin. North Korea’s sensitivity to criticism and efforts to reach its people with foreign media pose ongoing challenges.