SENIOR North Korean official Kim Yo Jong told South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeoul to “shut his mouth” today after he repeated an offer of economic aid in return for nuclear disarmament.

Mr Suk Yeoul had first proposed the agreement in May and reiterated it in his talk on Wednesday to mark his 100 days in office.

He said that he was willing to provide phased economic aid to North Korea if it ended nuclear weapons development and began denuclearisation.

But he has also pushed to increase South Korea’s military deterrence against North Korea.

South Korea has also resumed its joint drills with the United States, including major field exercises that are due to begin next week.

Ms Yo Jong, who is the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said in a statement: “It would have been more favourable for [Mr Suk-yeoul] to shut his mouth, rather than talking nonsense as he had nothing better to say.”

She called Mr Suk Yeoul “really simple and still childish” to think that he could trade economic co-operation for North Korea’s honour and nuclear weapons.

“No-one barters its destiny for corn cake,” she said.

She questioned the sincerity of South Korea’s calls for improved bilateral relations while it continues its combined military exercises with the US and fails to stop civilian activists from flying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets and other “dirty waste” across their border.

South Korean Unification Minister Lee Hyo Jung, who handles relations with North Korea, called her comments “very disrespectful and indecent.”

He said: “This attitude from North Korea will not only threaten peace on the Korean peninsula but result in further difficulties for the North by worsening its international isolation and economic situation.”

Earlier this month, Ms Yo Jong blamed the nation for a Covid-19 outbreak in North Korea and threatened “deadly retaliation” if there were further occurrences.

North Korea has launched missile tests at a record pace this year, with more than 30 ballistic launches including the country’s first demonstration of intercontinental missiles in nearly five years.

Experts have said that the heightened activity is intended to advance its arsenal and force the US to accept the country as a nuclear power and to enter negotiations on economy and security from a stronger position.