Kim Yojong Says "We Appreciate Chung's Determination to Prevent Recurrence"... Presidential Office Urges "Restraint from Heightening Tensions in Border Areas"

Ahead of the 9th Party Congress, North Korea Hardens Its Line of "Two Hostile States"...
Experts Warn of "Nullification of the Armistice Agreement"

At a press conference on the 18th, Unification Minister Chung Dongyoung mentioned a "partial restoration of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement." The following day, Kim Yojong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, stated, "We highly appreciate your determination to prevent a recurrence." This was effectively an assessment of Minister Chung's renewed "official expression of regret" over the intrusion of a South Korean drone into North Korean airspace. However, Kim added that "the border with an enemy state must naturally be solid," maintaining a wary stance.

Kim Yojong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea

On the morning of the 19th, Kim Yojong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued a statement saying, "Our military leadership will take measures to strengthen security across the entire southern border of the Republic that adjoins South Korea." She went on to say that she "highly appreciates" the fact that Minister Chung held a briefing the previous day, expressed "deep regret," and announced measures to prevent a recurrence. At the same time, referring to the part where Minister Chung characterized the drone incident as "a reckless military act by the previous administration," she pointedly warned, "Regardless of who the actor is or by what means, if any act of infringing upon the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) recurs, it will face a horrific situation."

In response, a senior presidential office official said, "The government hopes that South and North will move toward a path of peaceful coexistence and joint growth," adding, "The government hopes that both sides will refrain from actions that heighten tensions in border areas and will work together to build peace."

The Ministry of Unification also issued a statement the same day, saying, "We note that North Korea promptly announced its position regarding our government's expression of regret and the announcement of measures to prevent a recurrence in relation to the drone incident," and added, "The measures to prevent a recurrence announced yesterday by the Minister of Unification are intended to safeguard the safety and peace of both South and North."

Minister Chung's two expressions of regret are seen as reflecting his intention to ease the hostile posture between the two Koreas and rekindle the spark of dialogue. His mention of a partial restoration of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, including the designation of no-fly zones, is understood in the same context.

However, some analysts say that North Korea has in fact further intensified its hostile posture toward the South and embarked on turning the border into a virtual fortress. Hong Min, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, "They are concretizing the existing declaratory line of 'two hostile states' into physical, diplomatic, military, and legal action measures, and in particular, hinting at a shift toward a border management regime that completely nullifies the Armistice Agreement," adding, "It clarifies that agreements based on a 'special relationship,' such as the restoration of the September 19 military agreement proposed by the South Korean government, have no place, and sends a message that only a cold, state-to-state border management regime exists."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.