Former Chief of Staff to the Blue House under the Moon Jae-in administration, Lim Jong-seok, criticized our government, calling it "self-harming security and subtractive diplomacy," following reports that North Korea began deploying troops and heavy weapons after the annulment of the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement (hereinafter the 9·19 Agreement).
On the 28th, Lim posted on his social media (SNS), "Troops and heavy weapons are being redeployed to Guard Posts (GPs), and the opening of coastal artillery is rapidly increasing. Military exercises near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the Northern Limit Line (NLL) are also expected to become more frequent," adding, "this indicates heightened political conflicts and an increased possibility of military disputes."
He continued, "we will suffer greater damage. Incidents that threaten our economy and security could occur at any time," and said, "From North Korea's perspective, it is like being slapped when they want to cry." This implies that our partial suspension of the 9·19 Agreement gave North Korea an opportunity.
Lim stated, "Due to mutual restrictions, North Korea was much more constrained in intelligence gathering. While we could conduct reconnaissance on North Korea from medium and high altitudes through the ROK-US combined forces, North Korea faced difficulties," he explained.
He also pointed out that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration ruined relations with China and Russia. He said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government, by prioritizing Cold War ideology, has destroyed relations with China and Russia. This means that effective international cooperation, such as sanctions against North Korea, is no longer possible," adding, "Ignorant and reckless remarks on the Taiwan issue, excessive criticism of Russia and visits to Ukraine, and imprudent promotion of the ROK-US-Japan military alliance are all actions committed by President Yoon Seok-yeol."
Lim further stated, "North Korea is constantly advancing its nuclear weapons and has even acquired reconnaissance satellites. Cooperation from China and Russia has diminished. The United States is already overwhelmed by ongoing wars and conflicts," and questioned, "If military tensions arise in border areas or even local clashes occur, by what means will we manage our economy and security?"
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