Military Conducts First Artillery Drills in Inter-Korean Border Area Under New Administration
"No Suspension Order Yet... Scheduled Drills Continue"
The South Korean military is conducting artillery firing drills in the inter-Korean border area for the first time since the launch of the new administration.
According to the military on June 18, the Army's 7th Division 3rd Brigade Artillery and the 239th Artillery Battalion are carrying out live-fire artillery drills over two days starting today at the Chilseong firing range in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. The Chilseong firing range is located within 5 kilometers of the Military Demarcation Line. Artillery drills at this site had been suspended following the September 19·19 Military Agreement in 2018, but were resumed after the Yoon Suk-yeol administration suspended the agreement's effect.
Previously, on June 11, President Lee Jaemyung instructed the military to halt loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea. In response, the North Korean side also stopped its loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South. However, regarding artillery firing drills in the border area, no suspension or halt order has been issued yet. A military official stated, "Since there are no higher-level instructions yet, the artillery drills are being carried out as scheduled."
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During his presidential campaign, President Lee pledged to restore the September 19·19 Military Agreement. For this reason, there has been speculation that, following the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea, artillery drills in the inter-Korean border area could also be halted.
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