North Korea is planning to restore “all military measures” paused under a 2018 inter-Korean deal.
A statement was provided to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which said, “From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement.”
“We will immediately restore all military measures that have been halted according to the north-south military agreement.”
According to the statement, “We will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line.”
The military accord was signed by former South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018.
South Korea suspended parts of the accord relating to surveillance operations.
Defense Chief Shin Won-sik said South Korea had taken a “minimal defensive measure.”
“Therefore, the partial suspension of the agreement is an essential measure to protect people’s lives and safety. It is a corresponding response to North Korea’s provocation and a minimal defensive measure,” he explained.
