Ministry of Unification: "High Possibility of Increased Military Threat Level to South Korea"

At the Enlarged Meeting of the Party Central Military Commission, Frontline Unit Operation Plans Revised and Intentional Disclosure of South Korea Guidance

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 23rd, the Ministry of Unification released an analysis regarding the progress of North Korea's Workers' Party Central Military Commission expanded meeting, stating that "it is highly likely that the level of military threat against our side will increase."

A Ministry of Unification official said to reporters on the same day that in response to questions about the government's analysis of North Korea discussing 'additional operational missions for frontline units and revisions to operational plans' at the Workers' Party Central Military Commission expanded meeting held the previous day, they responded as such.

The official cited that the meeting was centered around the General Staff Department, which is the military training institution responsible for military operations, and that North Korea announced the addition and confirmation of operational missions for frontline units directly confronting South Korea as reasons.

Furthermore, the fact that discussions were openly held to revise military operational plans, which are usually managed confidentially, and that a map of South Korea's eastern region was deliberately exposed during the meeting were also cited as grounds for the possibility of an expanded threat level toward South Korea.

Regarding the possibility that North Korea might issue a message related to nuclear tests through this meeting, the official said, "Looking at the agenda set on the first day, it includes the matter of 'confirming the immediate national defense construction tasks,'" and added, "The government will keep all possibilities open and closely monitor related developments."

Since Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, came to power, a total of 17 Central Military Commission meetings (16 expanded meetings and 1 preliminary meeting) have been reported, but the official evaluated that it is unusual for an expanded meeting to be held for a third consecutive day as in this case.

Also, the official noted that North Korean media used the plural expression "Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission" when reporting the meeting, and based on photos showing Pak Jong-chon and Ri Pyong-chol seated on either side of Kim Jong-un at the meeting, it can be inferred that "Ri Pyong-chol has been appointed as a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission."

North Korea convened the Workers' Party Central Military Commission expanded meeting on the 21st and has been holding the meeting for more than two days. Chairman Kim Jong-un attended both the first and second day meetings and led the sessions personally.