North Korea Weighs Resuming Loudspeaker Broadcasts Toward South; Unification Ministry: "Armistice Violations Must Stop Immediately"
The Ministry of Unification stressed on October 20 that “North Korea must immediately stop any actions that violate the Armistice Agreement in areas around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL),” after Pyongyang said it was considering resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea and taking military countermeasures.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson’s office that day, the ministry said, “To ease tensions between the two Koreas and stabilize the situation, there must be mutual respect and consideration, rather than unilateral warnings and threats.”
It also stressed, “To fundamentally resolve tensions and clashes related to the Military Demarcation Line, the two Koreas must align their positions on the line and establish a communications system for its peaceful management as soon as possible.”
“We urge North Korea to also actively respond to efforts to prevent unnecessary escalation and achieve effective solutions to these issues,” it added.
The previous day, Kim Yo Jong, director of the General Affairs Department of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, criticized the South Korean military’s warning broadcasts and warning shots in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. She said, “The reckless bravado of the South Korean military gangsters has created a tense situation along the southern border.” She added that North Korea was “considering reinforcing tactical strike assets throughout the area near the southern border and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea.” She also said North Korea was considering other additional measures.
Kim also claimed that the South Korean military had conducted 2,870 warning broadcasts and fired warning shots 201 times between August 1 and October 17.
North Korea has continued its “fortification of the border,” including building fences and anti-tank barriers and laying mines in areas around the MDL. The South Korean military responds with warning broadcasts and warning shots when North Korean troops cross the MDL while working. Kim characterized the South Korean military’s response as an act that threatened the safety of North Korean troops and obstructed their construction work.
Since the so-called “West Front mine explosion,” which injured three South Korean generals, North Korea has maintained that it will continue its border work, justifying it as an exercise of sovereignty. Analysts say that, while seeking to avoid accidental clashes, North Korea may be invoking the possible deployment of additional tactical strike assets and the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea to deter the South Korean military from carrying out its routine responses in the DMZ and allow it to complete the work.
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A Ministry of Unification official told reporters at Government Complex-Seoul that day that, if North Korea actually resumes broadcasts, “We plan to review the matter responsibly in close cooperation with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense,” adding, “We will consider our response while monitoring North Korea’s movements.”
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