JCS: "North Korea Fires Artillery in East and West Sea Buffer Zones... Violation of September 19 Military Agreement"

Over 130 Shells Detected in Hwanghaedo, Over 40 in Gangwondo
Unexploded Ordnance in Maritime Buffer Zone... Military Calls It "Clear Violation of Agreement"

North Korean artillery firing (not directly related to the article). / Korean Central News Agency [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] It has been confirmed that North Korea conducted artillery fire within the maritime buffer zones in the East and West Seas established under the September 19 military agreement. The military authorities have stated that this is a "clear violation of the military agreement" and urged North Korea to immediately cease its provocations.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 14th that the artillery fire conducted by North Korea landed within the maritime buffer zones north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East and West Seas, as stipulated by the September 19 military agreement.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military detected about 130 artillery rounds fired westward into the West Sea from the Majang-dong area in Hwanghae Province between 1:20 a.m. and 1:25 a.m., and about 40 artillery rounds fired eastward into the East Sea from the Gueup-ri area in Gangwon Province between 2:57 a.m. and 3:07 a.m. on the same day.

The military assesses that no shells landed within South Korean territorial waters.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Artillery fire within the maritime buffer zones in the East and West Seas is a clear violation of the September 19 military agreement."

Earlier, at around 1:49 a.m. on the same day, North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) eastward from the Sunan area in Pyongyang. The military detected the missile flying approximately 700 km at an altitude of about 50 km and at a speed of Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound). Detailed specifications are currently being analyzed precisely by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.

Kim Seung-gyeom, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "Through a joint coordination meeting with General Paul LaCamera, Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, we closely shared the situation regarding North Korea's provocations," adding, "We confirmed that despite North Korea's continuous threats and provocations, we will further strengthen the combined defense posture."

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