North Korea requires “more respect” from Seoul to resume dialogue

“ Sand really want to reestablish relations between the DPRK and South Korea, they must take into account the feelings of the other party in each word and in each action, starting by showing more respect, greater consideration and sincerity,” Kim Yo-jong said in a press release released by the official media, using the official name of North Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (PRDC).

The statement arises after the South Korean Armed Forces demanded an apology to Pyongyang following explosions of mines that injured three South Korean soldiers on September 21 in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates the two Koreas.

Seoul accuses North Korea of placing the mines on the south side of the demarcation line, in violation of the armistice that ended the Korean War (1950-1953).

Despite this incident, the South Korean Government led by President Lee Jae-myung called on North Korea on 1 October to “reestablish confidence and resume dialogue.”.

Pyongyang denied any responsibility for the explosions in DMZ. Kim Yo-jong, considered one of the most influential figures in the North Korean regime, classified the incident as a “enactment organized by the South itself.”.

“In light of the actions of Seoul’s authorities, everything is full of unilateral judgments, unilateral decisions and unilateral announcements,” Kim Jong-un’s sister said.

“ Either they are politically immature, or they are truly incorrigible, foolish by nature”, he added.

Contacts between Seoul and Pyongyang have been completely interrupted since the end of 2023, when Kim Jong-un officially resigned from any prospect of reunification of the Korean Peninsula and began to designate South Korea as the “main enemy.”.

Since then, North Korea has strengthened its position in DMZ, a buffer zone four kilometres wide and about 250 kilometres long. Pyongyang began to consider the demarcation line that crosses the zone not as a provisional division, but as a border with a hostile state.

Since taking power in Seoul in June 2025, Lee Jae-myung has sought to reopen channels of dialogue with the North, but without success to date.

The “absolute and immutable position” of North Korea is that “there will be no exchange, no commitment, not even any face-to-face contact with South Korea,” Kim Yo-jong reiterated.