Kim Yo-jong mocks Lee's DMZ dialogue offer as 'clown show'

North Korean leader Kim Yo-jong on Friday ridiculed President Lee Jae-myung's proposal for inter-Korean dialogue following a landmine explosion in the DMZ, calling it "the height of a clown show." Kim issued a statement through KCNA, rejecting Seoul's call for talks and apology demands. She said North Korea's border fortification aims to "permanently close the door to South Korea," dismissing Lee's overture as an attempt to play a "righteous protagonist." The South Korean government had proposed dialogue to resolve military tensions and establish a clear military demarcation line, but Pyongyang firmly refused, also denouncing Seoul's characterization of the incident as a "provocation."