Han Deok-su: "Partial Suspension of 9.19 Agreement, Resumption of Military Demarcation Line Reconnaissance on North Korea"

Prime Minister Han Deok-su to Preside Over Emergency Cabinet Meeting on 22nd
"Minimum Defensive Measures Essential for Security"

The government decided on the 22nd to partially suspend the effectiveness of the September 19 military agreement. It also decided to immediately resume reconnaissance and surveillance activities against North Korea in the area around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), which had been suspended.

On the 22nd, when the Korean Central News Agency of North Korea reported that North Korea successfully launched the military reconnaissance satellite "Manlilkyung-1," Han Duck-soo, the Prime Minister, attended an emergency Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the emergency Cabinet meeting held that day, the agenda to suspend part of the effectiveness of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, which was signed and agreed upon during the third inter-Korean summit in March 2018, was scheduled to be processed. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the same day, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo held an emergency Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul and stated, "Reflecting the results of the Emergency National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee, we intend to pursue a plan to partially suspend the effectiveness of the September 19 military agreement until mutual trust between South and North Korea is restored."

North Korea launched a reconnaissance satellite from Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province at 10 p.m. the previous night. President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on a state visit to the United Kingdom, chaired the NSC Standing Committee on the 21st (local time) regarding the provocation and announced the plan to suspend the effectiveness of Article 1, Paragraph 3 of the September 19 military agreement, which stipulates a no-fly zone around the MDL.

Prime Minister Han criticized, "North Korea ignored repeated warnings from us and the international community and launched what they call a military reconnaissance satellite last night," adding, "This is a serious violation of the UN Security Council resolution that prohibits any launches using ballistic missile technology and a direct provocation threatening our security."

He emphasized, "This clearly shows North Korea's lack of willingness to comply with the September 19 military agreement aimed at easing military tensions and building trust on the Korean Peninsula."

Prime Minister Han continued, "We have concluded that enduring restrictions on our military's intelligence and surveillance activities in the border area under the September 19 military agreement significantly lowers our readiness posture and could lead to a situation where we cannot protect the lives and safety of our citizens," adding, "This is a necessary and minimal defensive measure for our national security."

According to this measure, reconnaissance and surveillance against North Korea in the border area will also commence. Prime Minister Han stated, "Our security posture in the border area has become vulnerable due to limitations on identifying North Korea's long-range artillery attacks and restrictions on our military's training to prepare for such attacks, exposing us to the risk of surprise attacks by North Korea," and added, "With the immediate resumption of reconnaissance and surveillance activities against North Korea around the Military Demarcation Line, our military's ability to identify North Korean threat targets and respond will be greatly strengthened."

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