Moon's Proposal for "Infectious Disease Cooperation" Followed Next Day by North Korea Firing Two Projectiles

Expectations for Improved Inter-Korean Relations Through Health and Medical Cooperation Tarnished
US-ROK Joint Exercises Postponed, but North Korea Responds with Provocations

President Moon Jae-in is drinking water after returning to his seat following the March 1st Movement anniversary speech at Baehwa Girls' High School in Jongno-gu on the 1st.

On the 2nd, a day after President Moon Jae-in proposed inter-Korean health cooperation in relation to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and other issues, North Korea launched unidentified projectiles from Wonsan into the East Sea. Expectations had been raised that the long-stagnant inter-Korean relations might be revived through health and medical cooperation, but these hopes were dashed in just one day.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 2nd, "North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles from near Wonsan into the East Sea this afternoon," adding, "These projectiles were detected by the military's ballistic missile early warning radar." This marks the first projectile launch by North Korea in 95 days since November 28 of last year.

On the previous day, the 1st, President Moon stated in his congratulatory speech at the 101st anniversary of the March 1st Movement commemoration ceremony, "I hope for joint cooperation with North Korea in the health sector." North Korea, with its fragile health and medical infrastructure, immediately implemented a national emergency quarantine system by fully closing its borders as COVID-19 spread in China.

North Korea claims that no confirmed cases have occurred yet and boasts itself as a 'COVID-19 clean country,' but it is known to be facing considerable difficulties in securing quarantine supplies. In response to this situation, President Moon expressed his determination to find a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations through a proposal for quarantine cooperation.

The Ministry of Unification also expressed its intention to actively promote inter-Korean health cooperation. At a regular briefing that day, Ministry of Unification spokesperson Yeo Sang-gi said, "We will prepare to promote cooperation (between the two Koreas) as conditions mature."

Until the morning of the 2nd, North Korea's state-run and propaganda media showed no response to President Moon's proposal. However, in the afternoon, by launching two projectiles, North Korea shattered expectations for inter-Korean health cooperation. South Korea and the United States also postponed the joint military exercises scheduled for March.

North Korea's recent provocation is being evaluated as part of a broader and long-term external strategy beyond inter-Korean relations.

Professor Park Won-gon of Handong Global University analyzed, "It is judged that the severe COVID-19 situation inside North Korea influenced this provocation," adding, "North Korea's act of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula before starting full-fledged relations with the international community is a progressive behavior."

Professor Park further assessed, "Because the coronavirus situation is serious, before actively accepting help from the United Nations and the international community, North Korea appears to be trying to consolidate internal public opinion and, especially by demonstrating deterrence as declared at the plenary meeting last December, to showcase Kim Jong-un's ability to protect the regime."