Lee Jong-seop "North Korea's September 19 Violation May Be the Start of an Intended Provocation Scenario"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop stated on the 16th that North Korea's blatant violation of the September 19 military agreement may be the beginning of a deliberate series of provocation scenarios.

At 2 p.m. that day, Minister Lee visited the Joint Chiefs of Staff Combat Control Room to check the response posture regarding North Korea's repeated military provocations and issued related directives.

Minister Lee said, "Recently, despite strong opposition from the international community, North Korea continues to launch ballistic missiles and unjustly claims our legitimate firing exercises as 'deliberate provocative acts,'" adding, "The blatant violation of the September 19 military agreement is a meticulously planned provocation and may be the start of an intended series of provocation scenarios," emphasizing the seriousness of the current situation.

Minister Lee instructed that our military must maintain a firm military readiness posture against any provocations and threats from North Korea. The Ministry of National Defense explained that he emphasized, "Commanders and soldiers at the operational sites must be prepared to implement resolute initial responses within the scope of self-defense without any hesitation if direct provocations in the style of seongdonggyeokseo (聲東擊西, feinting east and attacking west) by North Korea occur, maintaining an operational posture to conclude the situation on site."

Earlier, on the 14th of this month, North Korea conducted artillery firing provocations within the northern maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which is prohibited under the September 19 military agreement, both in the early morning and afternoon. The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that North Korea's multiple rocket launcher firing within the eastern and western maritime buffer zones violates the September 19 military agreement and sent a traditional message to the North urging compliance with the agreement and prevention of recurrence.