Defense Minister Drops Bombshell on North Korea Deal – Why They’re Ditching It All

North Korea continues to take follow-up measures, such as restoring guard posts (GP) following its declaration of complete abolition of the September 19th inter-Korean military agreement. The Ministry of National Defense reaffirmed that the total abolishment of the military agreement is desirable.

This means it is necessary to resume activities such as maritime artillery drills, which are still restricted due to the military agreement, to protect national safety and property.

Jeon Ha Kyu, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, stated during a regular briefing on the 30th, “The Ministry of Defense has consistently explained that the military agreement imposes various restrictions on military operations. We have conveyed to related agencies that a complete suspension of its effectiveness is necessary if needed.”

In response to a question asking if it is the Ministry of Defense’s position that it is desirable to abolish the military agreement altogether, Jeon confirmed, “Yes,” emphasizing that “we have consistently conveyed the Ministry of Defense’s position to related agencies.”

Previously, Defense Minister Shin Won Sik stated at an entire National Assembly Defense Committee session on the 23rd that “the military agreement is unilaterally beneficial to North Korea” and “I consider the military agreement to be the worst among the inter-Korean agreements. It is an agreement by North Korea, for North Korea, and of North Korea.”

Minister Shin said, “I have been insisting on the complete abolition of the military agreement,” and “it appeared in a retreated form as partial suspension of effectiveness after going through the government’s coordination process.”

He emphasized that North Korea’s provocations are “planned” and “we should keep in mind that they provoked when they needed it and when they saw a chance, not based on the presence of an agreement.”

His remarks are interpreted as brushing off concerns from some quarters that military tensions between the two Koreas could escalate if the agreement is wholly abolished, emphasizing the need for ‘nullification of the agreement.’

It can be seen as expressing ‘confidence’ that North Korea will have no choice but to hesitate to provoke if a thorough preparedness posture, represented by overwhelming deterrence, is established.

The military authorities have repeatedly expressed the view that if our military’s capabilities are maximized through the abolition of the military agreement, the stability of the Korean Peninsula will increase.

Minister Shin emphasized the government’s partial suspension of the military agreement, “What matters is whether it helps to protect the lives and property of the people,” and “If there is a benefit of 1 trillion won from the suspension, the loss caused by it is 1 won.”

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik ⓒDailian Hong Geum-pyo Reporter

In the same context, Kim Myung Soo, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the Eastern Front GP and general outpost (GOP) as his first visit after taking office and urged them to “always maintain an operational posture that can immediately respond if the enemy provokes.”

As North Korea is re-deploying facilities and troops to the GP after the abolition of the military agreement, it is interpreted as emphasizing deterrence both domestically and internationally, considering the possibility of related provocations.

Chairman Kim stated, “The enemy is likely to carry out provocations through deception and surprise under meticulous planning,” and “Keep a close watch on even the smallest movements of the enemy and if the enemy provokes, retaliate ‘immediately, strongly, and to the end.'”

In particular, he urged, “The GP, which faces the enemy up close, should end the situation on the spot through a reflexive response to enemy provocations and ‘action first, report later’ by the field commander.”

Earlier, the government took steps to partially suspend the effectiveness of the military agreement, centered on the lifting of the no-fly zone, in response to North Korea’s provocation of a military reconnaissance satellite. As North Korea has launched a satellite and is stepping up its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, there is a need to restore our military’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities that the military agreement has restricted.

In response to the South’s suspension of effectiveness, North Korea has effectively declared a complete abolition of the agreement. It is repeatedly taking ‘follow-up measures’ such as restoring the GP and arming with handguns in the Joint Security Area (JSA) in Panmunjom.

South Korean and U.S. forces are on duty in Panmunjom, Paju, Gyeonggi Province (file photo). ⓒJoint Photojournalism Team

Meanwhile, North Korea criticized the South Korean government’s partial suspension of the military agreement through a commentary in the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The commentary, titled “The result of jumping into the fire after building a dam,” stated, “The reckless actions of the puppet faction, who pulled out the last ‘safety ring’ with their own hands, are underpinned by sinister prayers,” and “No one knows when the mad dog’s tantrum, who blindly believes in the U.S. like a grandfather and is lost in extreme delusions, will bring what kind of fire to the puppet area.”

By. Kang Hyun Tae