Russia "Concerned about Korean Peninsula situation... Urges Restraint" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Russia expressed concern over North Korea's demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office building and urged restraint from the parties involved.

According to TASS and other sources, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated on the day, "We are concerned about the situation on the Korean Peninsula."

He added, "Naturally, we are closely monitoring what is happening on the Korean Peninsula," and "We urge all parties to exercise restraint."

When asked whether President Vladimir Putin plans to have phone contact with top officials of related countries to support the resumption of inter-Korean contact, Peskov replied, "At present, there are no specific plans to have (phone) contact with any high-ranking official."

Earlier, Russian media also urgently reported the news of North Korea's demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office.

The state-run RIA Novosti reported that North Korea demolished the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office. RIA Novosti explained, "Kaesong, located about 50 km from Seoul, is one of the main directions for North Korean troops to advance in the event of a war between the two Koreas," and "Before the Kaesong Industrial Complex was established in 2003, infantry divisions and artillery brigades were deployed on the eastern outskirts of Kaesong."

In fact, Kaesong has been considered the top priority route for North Korea's southern invasion in emergencies. Until the groundbreaking of the Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2003, the 6th Division, 64th Division, and 62nd Artillery Brigade of the 2nd Corps were deployed in the Kaesong and Panmun-eup Bongdong-ri areas.

RIA Novosti also detailed that Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un and acting spokesperson, demanded measures against the distribution of anti-North leaflets in a statement on the 4th, mentioning the demolition of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, the termination of the inter-Korean military agreement, and the complete removal of the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Ministry of Unification announced, "North Korea demolished the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office building at 2:49 PM today." As a result, the Inter-Korean Liaison Office, which opened in Kaesong in September of that year under the Panmunjom Declaration agreed upon by the South and North Korean leaders on April 27, 2018, disappeared after 19 months of operation.