South Korean military suspected of encouraging provocations by North Korea
In South Korea, the Ministry of Defense dismissed suspicions of provoking North Korea (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The Ministry of Defense of South Korea rejected accusations that the suspension of the inter-Korean military agreement and the resumption of propaganda via loudspeakers along the border with North Korea were aimed at provoking Pyongyang ahead of the president's declaration of martial law in December, reports Yonhap.
On Monday, January 13, the Ministry of Defense of South Korea issued a response to suspicions raised by the opposition bloc and spread by several media outlets.
The South Korean defense ministry was accused of deliberately engaging in actions to provoke North Korea into staging provocations in connection with the temporary declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3, 2024.
"Our military has deterred North Korea's provocations through a consistent policy toward North Korea while maintaining firm military readiness," stated the country's Ministry of Defense.
The ministry also explained that some people associate such routine military actions and measures with the situation regarding martial law.
According to the Ministry of Defense, this has raised security concerns and could interfere with our military activities.
The South Korean ministry called on the public not to raise such suspicions and promised to cooperate closely with the investigation into the introduction of martial law in the country, which sparked a major scandal.
Similarly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea had previously dismissed accusations that when Kim Yong-hyun was Minister of Defense, the ministry had sent propaganda leaflets to North Korea to provoke military provocations.
Kim is accused in South Korea of being a key figure in the failed implementation of martial law.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff also denied suspicions that they had attempted to conceal evidence following reports of drone flights over Pyongyang in October 2024.
In June, the National Security Council under the South Korean president decided to suspend the inter-Korean tension-reduction agreement of 2018 in response to North Korea's mass sending of balloons carrying garbage across the border.
Later, South Korean military forces resumed broadcasting propaganda against Pyongyang through loudspeakers near the border.
It was also previously reported that on December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in the country. It lasted for about six hours, after which the president apologized for the decision.
On December 14, an impeachment motion was filed against President Yoon Suk Yeol in South Korea. Meanwhile, the president is avoiding legal proceedings regarding the impeachment case.
