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Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and deputy director of the Workers’ Party, speaks in August 2022 at a national anti-epidemic meeting, where she blamed the South for spreading COVID-19 into the North and threatened retaliation. / Source: Yonhap News

North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Workers’ Party, lashed out at South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on August 20, declaring he is “not a great man who will change history” and accusing Seoul of hypocrisy in its outreach.

According to Pyongyang’s state media, Kim made the remarks during a meeting with senior Foreign Ministry officials, where she relayed Kim Jong-un’s foreign policy vision while sharply criticizing what she called Seoul’s “deceptive appeasement offensive.”

Kim said the Lee government is desperately trying to claim credit for “serious efforts” toward improving inter-Korean relations, but insisted the essence of South Korea’s policies remains unchanged. “From Moon Jae-in to Yoon Suk-yeol, we have witnessed the rotten political system of South Korea for decades,” she said. “Whether under the banner of ‘conservatives’ or the cloak of ‘democrats,’ Seoul’s confrontational ambitions against our republic have never wavered.”

She also cited controversies during confirmation hearings for Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek, accusing Seoul officials of “double-faced” behavior.

Kim dismissed Lee’s Liberation Day speech in which he pledged to respect North Korea’s system and vowed not to pursue unification by absorption, calling it mere posturing. “In Seoul, every administration indulges in wishful thinking, self-praise, and groundless dreams,” she mocked.

On South Korea’s ongoing joint drills with the United States, Ulchi Freedom Shield, Kim branded them “reckless invasion exercises that directly threaten the security of our republic.” She accused Seoul of parroting past claims that the drills are defensive, while in reality reviewing a new operational plan, OPLAN 5022, aimed at neutralizing the North’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Concluding, Kim declared, “South Korea can never be our diplomatic counterpart,” and urged Pyongyang’s diplomats to strengthen ties with states willing to heed Kim Jong-un’s line while isolating Seoul as “the most hostile nation.”