Shin Wonsik "September 19 Agreement Invalid"... Will Loudspeaker Broadcasts Resume? [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

At the Confirmation Hearing: "Best to Suspend Military Agreement Effectiveness as Soon as Possible"

Shin Won-sik, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, has attracted attention by stating that he will "do his best to suspend the effectiveness of the September 19 military agreement adopted at the 2018 inter-Korean summit as soon as possible." There is also an analysis that if the September 19 military agreement is nullified, loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea can be resumed without procedures such as legislative amendments.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th, at the confirmation hearing held by the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, nominee Shin stated that he would "do his best to suspend the effectiveness of the September 19 military agreement adopted at the 2018 inter-Korean summit as soon as possible."

In particular, in response to People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Jae-ok's question that "there is great public concern regarding the September 19 military agreement," he said, "My conviction remains unchanged that it is an agreement that is advantageous only to North Korea and unilaterally disadvantageous to us," adding, "If I become minister, I plan to persuade the relevant ministries to do my best to suspend its effectiveness as soon as possible, even if I cannot completely abolish it."

The September 19 military agreement was signed in September 2018 by then-President Moon Jae-in and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, containing cooperation measures in five areas including denuclearization and cessation of hostile acts between the two Koreas in the military sector.

Nominee Shin also expressed his intention to resume psychological warfare against North Korea. When Democratic Party lawmaker Seol Hoon said, "Between 2010 and 2018, there were as many as 264 cases of North Korean infiltration or localized provocations, but in 2020 and 2021, there was only one localized provocation each year," and added, "Because of the September 19 agreement, North Korea could not provoke even if it wanted to," nominee Shin responded, "Psychological warfare against North Korea is the best means to deter them."

In this regard, President Yoon Suk-yeol previously instructed in January, regarding North Korea's drone airspace intrusion, "If North Korea provokes by invading our territory again, consider suspending the effectiveness of the September 19 military agreement."

At that time, some in the political circle analyzed that if the September 19 military agreement is nullified, loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea could be resumed without legislative amendments or other procedures. Subsequently, Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho mentioned the possibility of abolishing the September 19 agreement based on a major provocation by North Korea during the full meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly on the 21st. It is interpreted that the current government's consistent position is to consider all pressure measures, including loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea, if North Korea commits serious provocations in the future.

However, there is also a sentiment that while loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea should be considered a psychological warfare tool that can be used regularly, there is no need to escalate tensions without a special occasion. Regarding the distribution of leaflets toward North Korea, although there is no crackdown or punishment, the position is to maintain a request for voluntary restraint to ensure the safety of residents in border areas.