The official North Korean Central News Agency reported today, Sunday, that Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong-un, stated that her country’s army would immediately unleash a “firestorm” in the event of any provocation.
These remarks come after South Korea announced that North Korea had fired over 60 artillery shells near their maritime borders on Saturday, following a similar launch of over 200 shells in the region the day before. Seoul further reported that North Korea had fired over 90 shells on Sunday.
The North Korean army clarified that it does not pose any threat to South Korea as the live-fire exercises were conducted alongside the border.
Kim Yo-jong stated in a statement carried by the North Korean Central News Agency, “Let me make it clear once again that our army has already pulled the trigger.”
She added, “Our army will immediately unleash a firestorm in the event of any minor provocation.”
While South Korea conducted live-fire exercises at sea on Friday in response to the artillery shells, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that there were no plans to do so after Saturday’s events.
The military drills conducted on Friday led to warnings to residents of South Korea’s border islands to take shelter.
The South Korean military has urged North Korea to halt military activity that escalates tensions near the border.