North Korea "Re-enters Demilitarized Zone with Troops... Fortifying Frontline Positions" (Comprehensive)

Chosun People's Army General Staff Public Report
Possibility of GPs in DMZ, Kaesong, Geumgangsan, etc.
Leaflet Distribution Toward South Also Announced

A North Korean soldier stands in front of the West Sea missile launch site in Dongchang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, where the long-range rocket 'Unha-3' was installed, in April 2012. Last month, the U.S.-based North Korea specialist website 38 North and the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) both reported that, based on analysis of recently captured commercial satellite images, signs have been detected that North Korea is rebuilding the Dongchang-ri missile launch site, where dismantling work had previously begun.

North Korea announced on the 16th that it will redeploy troops to areas demilitarized under inter-Korean agreements and also distribute leaflets (pira) toward the South.

The General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army stated in a position released in the form of a "public report" by the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, "Our military is keenly observing the rapidly deteriorating inter-Korean relations and is fully prepared to militarily guarantee any external measures taken by the Party and government," indicating this intention.

The General Staff Department corresponds to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and exercises command authority over all military operations in North Korea.

The General Staff Department further stated, "We have received opinions from the Party Central Committee's United Front Department and departments responsible for hostile relations to study action plans that would allow our troops to redeploy to the demilitarized zones according to the inter-Korean agreement, fortify the front lines, and strengthen military vigilance against the South."

In this report, North Korea did not specify the exact locations of the "demilitarized zones according to the agreement," which is expected to cause confusion regarding the sites. Currently, Kaesong, Mount Kumgang, and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Guard Posts (GPs) are being mentioned.

Kaesong has been considered a primary invasion route in the event of an emergency. Until the start of the Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2003, the 6th Division, 64th Division, and 62nd Artillery Brigade of the 2nd Corps were stationed around Kaesong and Bongdong-ri, Panmun-eup. North Korea's intention appears to be to redeploy troops to these areas.

Mount Kumgang is also presumed to have military units deployed along the routes previously used by South Korean tourists.

Under the September 19 Military Agreement, both Koreas implemented a full cessation of hostile acts, including the demilitarization of the Joint Security Area (JSA) and the mutual pilot withdrawal of GPs within the DMZ.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un is seen calling Park Jung-chon, then Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (at the time Director of the Artillery Bureau), to give instructions at the 5th Company Commander and Company Political Instructor Conference held in Pyongyang in March last year.

North Korea also announced plans to distribute leaflets (pira) toward the South.

The General Staff Department said, "We have received opinions to open many areas along the land front and the southwestern sea, take thorough safety measures, and actively cooperate in the anticipated large-scale anti-South leaflet distribution campaign by our people from all walks of life."

It added, "We will promptly prepare military action plans to implement these opinions and obtain approval from the Party Central Military Commission."

Furthermore, it emphasized, "Our military will swiftly and thoroughly carry out any decisions and directives from the Party and government," and reiterated, "Once again, our military is fully prepared to militarily guarantee any external measures taken by the Party and government."

This report can be seen as a follow-up to the statement by Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, on the 13th, when she said, "We will soon take the next step in action," and "The authority to carry out the next anti-South action will be handed over to our military's General Staff Department."

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, analyzed the General Staff Department's announcement by saying, "It means they are starting actions as delegated by First Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong," and "By stating that approval from the Party Central Military Commission is necessary, it also implies approval from Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, for their plans."

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