North Korea deploying weapons to South Korea borders, Seoul preparing response
North Korea deploying weapons to South Korea borders, Seoul preparing response (Getty Images)
North Korean military began placing weapons in the demilitarized zone, near the border with South Korea, according to the South Korean Ministry of Defense, Bloomberg reports.
"South Korean military officials have spotted activity near the posts inside the Demilitarized Zone since late last week," the statement said.
South Korean military spotted a group of North Korean soldiers near small posts inside the demilitarized zone, positioning weapons. Seoul pledged to take corresponding measures, according to the statement, hinting at a restoration of South Korean guard posts near the border.
South Korea also detected increased activity of North Korean coastal artillery.
North Korea is deploying weapons to the borders after 5 years
The media states that North Korea destroyed 10 out of 11 guard posts inside the demilitarized zone after the summit nearly five years ago between leader Kim Jong Un and then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in that led to an agreement to reduce tensions along the heavily fortified DMZ dividing the peninsula.
"Current President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative, has been skeptical about the deal struck by his predecessor, who advocated rapprochement with Pyongyang," the article says.
Last week, Yoon's government suspended parts of the 2018 agreement after North Korea launched a spy satellite into orbit, while Seoul resumed reconnaissance flights near the border, which were suspended under the agreement.
North Korea's attempts to launch a spy satellite into orbit
In late May, North Korea attempted to launch a spy satellite Malligyong-1, but the carrier rocket lost its way and fell into the Yellow Sea.
Later, on June 16, South Korea lifted several parts of the rocket and satellite from the sea floor. After analyzing the details, experts stated that the "satellite" had no usefulness as a reconnaissance tool.
North Korea made a second attempt to launch the satellite on August 23. Tokyo said that Pyongyang used prohibited ballistic missile technology and that the projectile flew through the airspace near Okinawa.
On November 22, North Korea reported a successful launch of a ballistic missile with a spy satellite on board.
