[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Military "Immediate Response to GP Restoration"... Rising Tensions Between South and North

North Korea Fully Abandons Inter-Korean Military Agreement to Restore GPs
Possibility of Provocation Around Timing of Our Military's Satellite Launch

The military tension between South and North Korea has escalated as North Korea, having declared a full annulment of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, restored its frontline Guard Posts (GPs). Our military is also reviewing countermeasures, including the restoration of GPs.

On the afternoon of the 28th, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik presided over the 'All Forces Key Commanders Meeting' to assess our military's readiness in response to North Korea's GP restoration and to issue military directives. Attending this meeting are Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung-soo, chiefs of staff of each military branch, the Marine Corps commander, and other key officials from the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and each military branch.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, Minister Shin plans to instruct that our military's response measures to North Korea's GP restoration be prepared for immediate implementation during this meeting.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Photos released by our military confirm that North Korean forces have redeployed personnel and equipment to GPs within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and are installing observation posts. Surveillance equipment captured images showing ▲ North Korean troops setting up observation posts ▲ deployment of what is presumed to be recoilless rifles at fortifications ▲ personnel conducting night watch duties. In addition to GP restoration, the number of open coastal artillery positions on the West Sea has also increased. The military explained that the number has risen from single digits to double digits per location.

Previously, Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, stated on a broadcast the day before, "If the other side is armed and threatening us from observation posts nearby and we remain passive, that is unacceptable," and announced plans to restore our own GPs.

Inside and outside the military, concerns have been raised that North Korea might provoke around the 30th, when our military plans to launch its independent reconnaissance satellite 'No. 1,' known as the '425 Project.' Our reconnaissance satellite is scheduled to be launched into space aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, established by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. Through this independent reconnaissance satellite, the military will be able to observe key North Korean military facilities at a resolution of 0.3 to 0.5 meters. This means enhancing kill chain capabilities by early detection of the increasingly sophisticated North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

Meanwhile, North Korea claimed through the Korean Central News Agency on this day that its military reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyong-1,' launched last week, photographed the White House and the Pentagon (Department of Defense) in the United States. North Korea has consistently asserted that the reconnaissance satellite launched on the night of the 21st captured images not only of the Korean Peninsula but also of major military bases in Guam and Hawaii, U.S. territories, but has not released any satellite images.