[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] North Korea Provocation Crisis... Military Says "Military Agreement Achievements"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The Ministry of National Defense is causing controversy by stating that the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement "has concretely and substantially contributed to easing military tensions and building trust over the past 20 months." This evaluation is considered inappropriate amid rising tensions between the two Koreas, as Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, and Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee, on the same day, ordered the complete severance and disposal of inter-Korean communication lines during a meeting summarizing the inter-Korean business department's work.

On the 10th, the Ministry of National Defense held the 'First Half Major Commanders Meeting' chaired by Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, where attendees agreed that the military situation in the inter-Korean border area is being stably managed following the cessation of hostile acts on land, sea, and air.

The attendees also emphasized, "Our military has faithfully implemented the September 19 military agreement despite recent difficult inter-Korean relations, continuously striving to achieve a substantial easing of military tensions, and decided to militarily support the government's policy for denuclearization and peace process on the Korean Peninsula."

However, on the previous day, the 9th, North Korea did not respond to any inter-Korean communication channels, including the inter-Korean joint liaison office, military communication lines, and commercial maritime networks. At dawn that day, through the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea announced, "From noon, all communication lines will be cut off and disposed of," just three hours after the announcement, marking two years since the communication channels were activated in 2018.

Following this, just one day after mentioning the possibility of terminating the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, North Korea warned of a "situation that will cause the South to be extremely exhausted," raising concerns about potential military provocations. Even if it does not explicitly declare the termination of the military agreement?the "worst" scenario?there is speculation that North Korea may take measures tantamount to termination.

According to the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement concluded during the 2018 Pyongyang inter-Korean summit, the North Korean military, which had continuously conducted numerous artillery firing and field maneuver exercises within 5 km of the Military Demarcation Line, took measures such as suspending live fire of naval and coastal artillery and maritime maneuver exercises. Both Koreas also installed covers on the muzzles and barrels of naval and coastal artillery within the maritime buffer zone and closed the gun ports, but there are discussions about the possible redeployment of coastal artillery or resumption of firing exercises within the buffer zone.

Some also mention the resumption of launches of four types of short-range ballistic missiles that North Korea has successively test-fired since May last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.