Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has issued a stark warning against the United States, vowing to escalate military actions in response to the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier in South Korea. Her statement, carried by state media on Tuesday, criticized the U.S. and its allies, calling their actions “confrontation hysteria.”
The arrival of the USS Carl Vinson and other U.S. military assets, along with joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, has been condemned by Pyongyang as a provocation. Kim Yo Jong declared that North Korea would explore “strategic-level” responses, hinting at possible missile tests targeting U.S. bases or even the U.S. mainland.
The South Korean Defense Ministry dismissed her threats as an attempt to justify North Korea’s nuclear expansion. It reaffirmed that Seoul, backed by Washington, is fully prepared to counter any provocations from Pyongyang.
The USS Carl Vinson’s deployment, which began Sunday, aims to demonstrate the strength of the U.S.-South Korean alliance amid ongoing tensions. North Korea has responded to similar U.S. military movements in the past with missile tests, including the recent launch of cruise missiles last week—its fourth such test this year.
Despite former U.S. President Donald Trump expressing interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim Jong Un, North Korea has shown no willingness to engage. Experts suggest Kim is prioritizing military cooperation with Russia, including arms supplies for the war in Ukraine. They believe he may only consider diplomacy with Washington if his alliance with Moscow weakens.
During Trump’s first term, he and Kim met three times between 2018 and 2019 in an effort to negotiate North Korea’s nuclear program. However, talks ultimately collapsed due to disputes over U.S. sanctions, and Pyongyang has since continued to advance its weapons capabilities.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kims-sister-threatens-response-us-carriers-deployment-south-korea-rcna194642