[National Audit] Kim Dong-yeon on North Korea's Shooting Readiness: "Considering Designating Yeoncheon and Other Areas as Danger Zones"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is responding to questions from lawmakers during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government on the 14th.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon recently stated regarding North Korea's preparation to open fire toward South Korea following the intrusion of a Korean-made unmanned aerial vehicle into North Korea's border and airspace over Pyongyang, "We are considering designating danger zones in the border areas."

Governor Kim appeared at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province on the 14th and responded to a remark by Lee Hae-sik, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker from Gangdong-gu, Seoul, who pointed out that "police and local government heads can designate danger zones or impose traffic restrictions in relation to North Korea's filth balloon provocations and the distribution of leaflets by defector groups." Kim said, "I gave instructions this morning to designate danger zones," adding, "It seems reasonable to designate danger zones targeting Yeoncheon, Pocheon, Paju, Goyang, and Gimpo."

On that day, members of the Public Administration and Security Committee expressed concerns over the tense inter-Korean relations.

Chae Hyun-il, a Democratic Party lawmaker from Yeongdeungpo-gu Gap, Seoul, criticized the Ministry of Unification for neglecting the leaflet distribution, saying, "When leaflets are sent from Gimpo, Paju, and Yeoncheon, filth balloons come from the North. We must break this vicious cycle."

Yoon Geon-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker from Guro-gu Eul, Seoul, expressed concern to Governor Kim Dong-yeon, saying, "Ten years ago in Yeoncheon, defector groups fired leaflets using mortars, and North Korea responded by firing artillery, escalating tensions. It is true that the current situation is as tense as it was then."

In response, Governor Kim Dong-yeon promised, "The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit is patrolling. I will join the patrols as well."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of Defense announced on the 13th through the Korean Central News Agency that they had ordered the artillery combined units and key firepower units near the border to be in full firing readiness. This order included eight artillery brigades fully armed according to wartime personnel organization, switching to firing standby status by 8 p.m. that night. It was also confirmed that surveillance and guard duties at various units were strengthened, and air defense observation posts in Pyongyang were reinforced.