On August 14, Kim Yo Jong - a senior official in the North Korean Labor Party and the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un - said that the country had never removed the loudspeaker and would not do so, calling South Korea's belief that North Korea was responding to the peace proposal a " illusion".
According to Kim Yo Jong, the adjustment of the annual exercise plan by South Korea and the US is a "useless" act. She said that South Korea's policy towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "never changes and will not change".
The statement comes as some South Korean sources said the North Korean military has dismantled some loudspeakers to the South, following South Korea's similar actions. This has fueled cautious hopes that North Korea will actively respond to President Lee Jae Myung's dialogue policy, aiming to ease cross-border tensions and pave the way for negotiations.
However, Kim Yo Jong has denied the possibility of North Korea sitting at the dialogue table with the US, saying that reports on this prospect are just misguided.
Kim Yo Jong's comments continued to show North Korea's tough stance, despite South Korea's efforts to restart exchange channels and reduce military confrontation.
