Kim Jong-un's Sister Calls South Korea's Peace Efforts A 'Direct Dream'

Kim Yo-jong. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea's younger brother Kim Jong-un said on Thursday the country had never turned off a propaganda loudspeaker and would not do so, calling South Korea's belief Pyongyang responded to its peace efforts "real dreams".

Kim Yo-jong, the younger brother of leader Kim who is a senior official in North Korea's ruling Labor Party, also said adjustments made to the annual joint military exercise plan between South Korea and the United States were a "sia-sia" move that did not change the enemy's intentions.

Kim, believed by officials and analysts as his brother's spokesman, has in recent weeks rejected the steps taken by South Korea's new government aimed at easing tensions between the two Koreas.

"I believe Seoul's policy towards the DPRK remains unchanged and will never change," Kim was quoted as saying by the official KCNA news agency.

It is known that the DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

Earlier, the South Korean military said it had detected North Korean military movements to dismantle some propaganda loudspeakers aimed at South Korea, following similar moves taken by South Korea.

Seoul's military Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday said it remained on its assessment of activity observed in parts of the border, adding they were continuing to monitor the situation.

Military spokesman Lee Sung-jun said he believed caution was needed when interpreting statements made by North Korea to avoid misunderstandings, and Pyongyang often made "untrue claims", but gave no further explanation.

Lee did not directly respond to questions about news reports that North Korea had only uncovered one loudspeaker from dozens installed along the border.

During President Yoon Suk-yeol's tenure, South Korea broadcast a loudspeaker broadcast criticizing North Korea's leadership in a propaganda campaign that sparked anger from its rivals.

There is careful optimism in South Korea, North Korea may respond positively to President Lee Jae-myung's policy of interacting with Pyongyang, after a period of cross-border tension and even showing a willingness to return to dialogue.

Kim Yo-jong also said North Korea would not sit with the United States for dialogue, citing reports raising the possibility of the development as "false assumptions."

Separately, senior analyst at South Korea's National Unification Institute Hong Min said Pyongyang may have anticipated further peace measures from South Korea and may be trying to regulate the pace of development while emphasizing leader Kim Jong-un's pledge to permanently cut ties with Seoul.