North Korea says South Korea's peace overtures a 'pipedream'

14/8/2025 6:32

The North Korean leader's powerful sister said on Thursday that the country has never taken down propaganda loudspeakers and will not do so, calling South Korea's belief that Pyongyang was responding to its peace overtures a "pipedream."



Kim Yo Jong, who is a senior official in the North's ruling Workers' Party, also said a change made to the plan for annual joint military drills by South Korea and the United States was a "futile" move that does not change the allies' hostile intent.



Kim, who officials and analysts believe speaks for her brother, has in recent weeks rebuffed moves taken by South Korea's new liberal government aimed at easing tension between the two Koreas.



"I am confident that Seoul's policy towards the DPRK remains unchanged and can never change," Kim was quoted as saying by

KCNA official news agency. DPRK is short for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.



South Korea's military has said it detected moves by the North's military to dismantle some propaganda loudspeakers directed at the South, following similar moves by the South.