North Korea Warns of 'Full-Blown War' if More 'Reckless' Remarks From South

North Korea has lashed out in retaliation to comments made by the South Korean defense minister, with warnings of "disaster" and "full-blown war."

In a statement released on Sunday, Kim Yo-jong, sister to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, called the South's defense minister, Suh Wook, a "scum-like guy" for raising the possibility of preemptive strikes against its northern adversary. Kim, who South Korea's spy service says is the North's number two official behind her brother, further derided Suh as "reckless" and warned that the South could face a "serious threat," The Guardian reported.

Suh made his comments on Friday during a visit to South Korea's strategic missile command, stating that the country is ready and able to launch preemptive strikes should it be determined that the North intends to launch its own attack. North Korea recently began running missile tests again, including its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in around four years. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has urged for greater reconciliation between the two nations, but the new missile tests appeared to have thrown a wrench into the works.

"The senseless and scum-like guy dare mention a preemptive strike at a nuclear weapons state," Kim said in a statement released to North Korean state-run media. "South Korea may face a serious threat owing to the reckless remarks made by its defense minister...South Korea should discipline itself if it wants to stave off disaster."

Pak Jong Chon, a secretary for North Korea's ruling Workers party's central committee, also made his own comments in response to Suh, The Guardian reported. He warned the South that "any slight misjudgment and ill statement rattling the other party under the present situation" could lead to "a dangerous conflict and a full-blown war." Should South Korea make good on its talk about preemptive strikes, Pak said North Korea will "mercilessly direct military force into destroying major targets in Seoul and the South Korean army" in return.

Newsweek attempted to reach the South Korean Ministry of National Defense for a comment on this story.

Coinciding with the new round of missile tests, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appeared in an intensely cut video hyping up the occasion, which was broadcast by state-run media channels. Due to its stylized nature, some online lambasted the propaganda as an effort to ape the style of Hollywood action movies like Top Gun.