North Korea Comments on South Korean Election in a Rare Move

North Korea ended its silence approximately one week following the 22nd general election held on the 10th.

The Rodong Sinmun, the North Korean Workers’ Party newspaper, published an article titled “Listen to the Public Sentiment! Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol” on the 16th.

The article delved into the recent impeachment candlelight rally against Yoon Suk Yeol, held over the past weekend, noting that “Following the significant setback of the People’s Power in the South Korean parliamentary election, individuals from various backgrounds have united in the popular movement for Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.”

Further criticism was expressed, including “the resolute condemnation of public sentiment following Yoon Suk Yeol’s defeat,” citing remarks and statements made by participants.

Some have interpreted this action as an opposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s rhetoric of labeling North Korea the main enemy.

Since assuming office, President Yoon has consistently emphasized North Korea as the main enemy and has frequently discussed the potential suspension of the 9/19 Military Agreement, which is aimed at implementing the Panmunjom Declaration signed in Pyongyang.

In reaction, North Korea has taken a stance asserting that “South Korea is our illegal main enemy.”

Before the Moon Jae In administration, Kim Yo Jong, the deputy director of the North Korean Workers’ Party, stated, “South Korea is not our enemy.”

Two days after the 20th presidential election in 2022, North Korea announced that Yoon Suk Yeol, the People’s Power party candidate, had won.

This brief statement, explicitly naming the elected individual, was regarded as unusual by North Korean experts at the time.

During the 18th presidential election in 2012, North Korea did not mention Park Geun Hye’s name, simply stating that “the Saenuri Party candidate was barely elected.”

Similarly, in the previous Lee Myung Bak administration’s 17th presidential election, North Korea did not report the election results for a week.

North Korea’s most recent detailed coverage of a South Korean election occurred during the 19th presidential election in 2019.

On the second day of former President Moon Jae In’s inauguration, Korean Central Television reported, “In this election, the Democratic Party candidate Moon Jae In was elected the 19th president with a voting rate of 41%.”

This marked the first instance where specific voting rates were mentioned. The Korean Central News Agency also published a brief article titled “The 19th Presidential Election in South Korea is Underway,” comprising four sentences.

This coverage indicated North Korea’s significant interest in the Moon Jae In administration, mainly due to its declaration of a progressive inheritance of the North Korea-inclusive policy from the campaign period.

Reflecting on the defeat in the general election, President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his intention to adopt a more humble and flexible approach, emphasizing his commitment to listening to public sentiment.

Acknowledging his shortcomings during his two-year tenure, President Yoon admitted to falling short of public expectations and pledged to prioritize the welfare of the underprivileged in the future.

In light of recent events in Iran and Israel, President Yoon vowed to bolster national security measures, underscoring the importance of maintaining readiness against potential security threats stemming from regional instability or provocations from North Korea.