South Korea’s Peace Push a ‘Grave Error,’ Says North Korea

North Korea Rejects South’s Peace Push, Calls It a ‘Major Miscalculation.’

North Korea on Monday dismissed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s recent efforts to ease tensions, calling them a “great miscalculation” and reiterating it has no interest in dialogue with Seoul.

In the regime’s first formal response to President Lee’s peace gestures, Kim Yo Jong — sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a senior official in the ruling party — accused Seoul of being insincere and aligned with “hostile forces.”

“If South Korea expects to undo years of hostility with a few sentimental gestures, there could be no greater miscalculation,” Kim said via state-run KCNA.

Lee, a liberal who took office in June following the impeachment of hardline predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, had pledged to reset ties with Pyongyang. His administration quickly halted anti-North propaganda broadcasts and banned activists from sending provocative leaflets across the border.

But Kim dismissed these actions as “not even worth assessing,” arguing they merely reversed provocations that should never have happened in the first place.

She added, “We make clear again — no matter what Seoul proposes, we are not interested. There is nothing to discuss.”

Lee’s peace overtures had raised hopes of renewed engagement, especially after Pyongyang also stopped its own loudspeaker broadcasts. But North Korea’s latest statement effectively shuts the door on any short-term reconciliation.

Despite advocating dialogue, Lee has doubled down on South Korea’s alliance with the United States, calling it the “pillar” of national security. “We will strengthen the South Korea–US alliance sealed in blood,” he said on Sunday during a ceremony marking the Korean War armistice.

North Korea also commemorated the anniversary — which it celebrates as Victory Day — though this year’s events appeared more subdued.

The two Koreas, along with the U.S. and China, remain technically at war since the 1950–53 Korean conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.