North Korea arms itself on the border with the South
Following the launch of a North Korean spy satellite, Seoul puts a military agreement with its neighbor on hold for the time being. Pyongyang responds by deploying troops to the border. Now ruler Kim Jong Un is also having guard posts rebuilt in the region.
According to the South Korean army, North Korea has begun to rebuild guard posts on the southern border following the suspension of a military agreement between the two countries. Pyongyang recently dispatched armed soldiers and equipment, an army official said. A photo released by the army shows four North Korean soldiers setting up a wooden guard post in the demilitarized zone between the two countries.
The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, with reference to the army, that all eleven posts that had been abolished as part of the agreement are to be restored. Pyongyang had already announced its intention to deploy "more heavily armed forces" and "new types of military equipment" on the border between the two Koreas.
Last Wednesday, South Korea declared that it would partially suspend a 2018 military agreement and resume surveillance measures along the border. This was preceded by the launch of the spy satellite "Malligyong-1", which North Korea said it had successfully launched into space last week after two failed attempts.
During a visit to the space control center in Pyongyang this Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed "great satisfaction" with the preparations for the satellite's reconnaissance mission, which is due to begin on 1 December, according to the state news agency KCNA. The launch of the satellite was strongly condemned by the USA and South Korea in particular. They fear a "destabilizing effect" for the region.
Due to the South's suspension of a military agreement in response to North Korea's spy satellite launch, there are concerns about an escalation of the North Korea conflict. The latest development sees North Korea rebuilding guard posts and deploying troops along the border with South Korea.
Source: www.ntv.de
