JCS Strongly Denies 'North Korean Provocation Inducement Theory'

"If They Intended to Provoke, They Would Have Fired During the 'Gyeongui Line Explosion'"

The Joint Chiefs of Staff denied allegations that our military distributed leaflets to North Korea to provoke provocations, stating that it is "an impossible matter."

Yonhap News

Lee Seong-jun, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs Officer, said at the Ministry of National Defense regular briefing on the 2nd regarding the military's alleged leaflet distribution to North Korea, "It is not true that the military engaged in activities to provoke enemy provocations. It is an impossible matter." He added, "If the military had engaged in activities to provoke enemy provocations, when the Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line were blown up, many fragments crossed over to the South side, and at that time, we would have fired shots at North Korea," and questioned, "Why would we have only fired warning shots to the South side, leaving such a good opportunity unused?"

When North Korea blew up parts of the inter-Korean connecting roads on the Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line last October, fragments crossed over to the south of the Military Demarcation Line, but the military emphasized that even then, it only conducted counter-fire in the area south of the Military Demarcation Line without the purpose of provoking North Korean provocations.

Lee added, "Our military is engaged in activities to protect the people and safeguard life and safety, not activities to provoke enemy provocations." The Joint Chiefs of Staff maintained their previous stance of "cannot confirm" regarding allegations that the military flew drones to Pyongyang last October.

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, Bu Seung-chan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, mentioned in a radio interview that "I received a report suggesting that the military produced and distributed leaflets to North Korea and seemed to be provoking North Korean provocations."

Rep. Bu stated, "To verify the report at the National Defense Committee's current affairs questioning, I asked the head of the military psychological warfare unit, 'Does the military send leaflets to North Korea?'" He claimed, "If the psychological warfare unit chief had not sent them, he would have strongly denied it, but his eyes were somewhat surprised, and he said, 'I cannot confirm it.'"

Rep. Bu continued, "After this inquiry, I received another report about the size of an A4 sheet," explaining, "It seemed to be a report from someone who witnessed the legal review process on whether the military is allowed to send leaflets or dollars to North Korea."

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