South Korea Resumes Border Artillery Exercises After Suspending Pact with North Korea
Seoul, South Korea
– The South Korean military has resumed artillery exercises near the border with North Korea, following the suspension of a 2018 inter-Korean military pact.
Background:
In 2018, South Korea and North Korea signed a Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) that included a provision to cease border artillery exercises. The CMA was part of a series of diplomatic initiatives aimed at improving relations between the two countries. However, tensions have escalated in recent months, with North Korea conducting multiple missile launches and threatening to withdraw from the CMA.
Resumption of Exercises:
On August 26, 2022, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced that it would resume border artillery exercises in response to North Korea’s provocative actions. The exercises, which involve firing artillery rounds into the sea, are intended as a display of military strength and a warning to North Korea. The JCS stated that the exercises were “defensive in nature” and “conducted in a way to avoid escalating tensions.” It also stressed that South Korea remained committed to dialogue with North Korea.
North Korea’s Reaction:
North Korea condemned the resumption of border artillery exercises, calling them a “serious violation” of the CMA. The North Korean military threatened to take unspecified “countermeasures.”
International Concerns:
The resumption of border artillery exercises has raised concerns among the international community. The United States has expressed its support for South Korea’s decision but has also called for restraint and a return to dialogue. The United Nations Command (UNC), which oversees the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War, has called on both sides to refrain from actions that could further exacerbate tensions.
Outlook:
The resumption of border artillery exercises marks a setback in inter-Korean relations. It is unclear what impact this will have on future diplomatic efforts between the two countries. Analysts warn that the situation could spiral out of control if either side responds with further provocative actions. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and urging both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue.
South Korea Resumes Border Artillery Exercises After Suspending Pact with North Korea
Seoul, South Korea
– South Korea’s military has resumed artillery exercises near the heavily fortified border with North Korea after suspending a pact with the North to prevent accidental clashes. The exercises, which began on Monday, June 20, 2023, involve the firing of live ammunition into a maritime buffer zone in the Yellow Sea. The buffer zone was created in 2018 as part of an inter-Korean agreement to reduce tensions. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the exercises were necessary “to maintain a firm defense posture and the readiness of our forces.” The statement added that the exercises would be conducted “in a professional and responsible manner.” North Korea has condemned the exercises as a violation of the inter-Korean agreements. The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the exercises “seriously threaten the security of our country” and warned of “grave consequences.” Tensions between the two Koreas have been high in recent months, with North Korea conducting a series of missile tests and South Korea responding with military drills and sanctions. The suspension of the inter-Korean pact in May 2023 was seen as a setback to efforts to reduce tensions on the peninsula. The resumption of artillery exercises by South Korea is a sign that the military is taking a more aggressive stance towards the North amid the ongoing tensions. It remains to be seen how North Korea will respond to the exercises and whether they will further escalate the situation.