N. Korean leader's sister denies loudspeaker removal, rejects Seoul's outreach

North Korea has denied dismantling loudspeakers directed across the border toward South Korea as earlier reported by officials here.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification says it will come up with measures to stabilize inter-Korean relations.

Cha Yun-kyung has more.

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has rejected Seoul's conciliatory measures and reaffirmed Pyongyang's intent to maintain its hostile stance.

In a statement released through the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday, Kim dismissed recent measures by the Lee Jae Myung administration, which took office in June pledging to mend strained ties with North Korea.

Lee's government has halted anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts, moved to ban leaflet balloon launches into the North, and repatriated North Koreans who had drifted south in wooden fishing boats.

Responding to Lee's remarks on Tuesday that the North has also removed some loudspeakers, Kim called it "groundless speculation and a manipulation of public opinion," insisting North Korea has not dismantled the loudspeakers deployed along the border, and doesn't intend to do so.

Also in her statement, Kim Yo-jong criticized adjustments to the upcoming Korean-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise starting on August 18th, dismissing them as "worthless and futile."

Meanwhile, at a briefing on Thursday, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said the military had explained the facts based on its observations of North Korea removing speakers.

It urged caution against being swayed by the intent behind North Korea's announcements, adding it has often made unfounded claims.

A military official said, "There is a possibility that Kim made such a statement because she did not want the regime to appear to be taking down the loudspeaker in response to the South's removal of its loudspeakers from border areas," adding that one loudspeaker had been removed from the border.

Regarding Kim's hostile stance, the Ministry of Unification said it will come up with measures for the normalization and stabilization of inter-Korean relations.

An official from the ministry stated the regime's statement was timed to coincide with President Lee Jae-myung's August 15th Liberation Day speech, the Korean-U.S. joint military exercise, and the South Korea-U.S. summit scheduled for August 25th.

Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.