The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mocked South Korea’s ability to detect weapons launches by the North on Sunday, as she denied Seoul’s claim that North Korea fired artillery shells into the sea the previous day. South Korea's military quickly dismissed her statement as “a low-level psychological warfare" and warned that it will make a stern response to any provocations by North Korea. North Korea’s military later confirmed it used coastal artillery systems to carry out live-firing exercises. North Korea’s artillery firings Friday prompted South Korea to have its troops on border islands fire artillery rounds near the sea boundary in response. South Korean analysts say she was attempting to help muster those opposing Yoon's tougher policy on North Korea ahead of the April elections.

Source: ABC News January 07, 2024 15:38 UTC