Kim Jong Un's sister rejects South Korea's calls for peaceful negotiation

Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister.

The new South Korean President, Lee Jae Myung, wants to set the stage for a new era in interpeninsular relations. Earlier in his presidency, he stopped anti-North Korean propaganda from being blasted from the loudspeakers over the DMZ. This is part of his policy of reconciliation with the North, the opposite of what the former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, had in mind for dealing with them. Lee believes that Yoon's policy of hostility towards North Korea is what made them more aggressive. North Korea seemingly responded well to his actions of stopping the propaganda, responding in kind, and removing their own. While this was a step in the right direction, North Korea seems to still have its reservations. Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister, has spoken for the country, stating that South Korea still has unresolved issues that she believes the current administration will not address.

One major issue North Korea has is the fact that the South continues to house American bases. North Korea views good relations with the United States as a threat to its national security. While Lee is known for being less hostile towards North Korea, removing the American presence in the country appears to be a line he is unwilling to cross.