Seoul, June 5 (Yonhap) — North Korean state media reported on the results of South Korea’s 21st presidential election on Wednesday, June 5th, marking the first time Pyongyang has acknowledged the election since its occurrence.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the election was held two months after former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached over the December 3 Emergency Martial Law incident, and that Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party had won. The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party and primarily aimed at domestic audiences, also carried the same report.
[Image: A file photo shows South Korean President Lee Jae-myung taking the oath of office at the 21st presidential inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on June 4. (Yonhap/National Assembly Press Corps)]
This marks the first mention of South Korea’s 21st presidential election by North Korean media. Previously, Pyongyang had published articles criticizing the South Korean political situation during the election period. However, since the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, North Korea had remained silent on the South Korean election landscape.
Analysts suggest this silence, followed by the recent report, may be linked to North Korea’s redefinition of inter-Korean relations as two hostile countries at the end of 2023. This shift in stance could explain the delayed and somewhat muted coverage of the election results.
Historically, North Korean media has shown varying degrees of promptness in reporting on South Korean elections. During the 17th presidential election, it took a week after the voting day for North Korean media to report on Lee Myung-bak’s victory. In contrast, the 18th presidential election saw North Korean media report the following day that the New National Party had won.
Conclusion:
North Korea’s delayed and concise reporting on the South Korean presidential election, following a period of silence after Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, reflects the increasingly strained relationship between the two Koreas. The report, while acknowledging the election results, avoids any commentary that could be interpreted as supportive or congratulatory, further solidifying the two hostile countries narrative. This development warrants close observation as it could signal a continued hardening of North Korea’s stance towards the South and impact future inter-Korean relations.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency (Korean and English language reports)
- Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
- Rodong Sinmun
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