North Korea, on Sunday, slammed the South Korean defence minister’s statements about its capacity to strike against the North, warning that major targets in Seoul would be destroyed in the event of a preemptive military strike from the South, Reuters reported. 

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, said that the South Korean defence minister’s statements had worsened relations between the two nations, with state news agency KCNA reporting her explaining that such comments “further worsened the inter-Korean relations and military tension on the Korean peninsula”. 

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In another statement, Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea said that the North would “mercilessly direct all its military force into destroying major targets in Seoul and the South Korean army”, but no such targets were specified. Kim Yo Jong, the department director of this party noted that North Korea would now have to consider a lot of things, and South Korea could face serious threats over its comments. 

Suh Wook, the South Korean defence minister, had said on Friday that the nation had various missiles with highly improved firing ranges, power, and accuracy, touting South Korea’s “ability to accurately and quickly hit any target in North Korea.”

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He also explained that the South Korean ministry would assist the nation’s military to ensure they can respond overwhelmingly to North Korea’s missile threats. Suh Wook also called the North the enemy. 

In recent weeks, North and South Korea have seen tensions escalating, with the North testing two ballistic missiles which have the new ICBM system. With Yoon Suk-yeol set to take the office of President in South Korea, matters are volatile in the region. The president-elect earlier said that preemptive strikes may be the only way to counter North Korea’s missiles. Yoon also wants greater military deterrence, which involves South Korea getting closer to the United States. The president-elect also wants a three-way dialogue involving North and South Korea, and the US.