North Korea said on Thursday that it would strengthen its armed forces and deploy new weapons along its border with the South, a day after Seoul suspended part of a 2018 military agreement between the two Koreas in protest over Pyongyang’s launch of a spy satellite.
North Korea’s defence ministry stated in a statement broadcast by the KCNA news agency that it would resume all military steps that had been suspended as part of the agreement with South Korea to de-escalate tensions along their shared border.
“From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement,” the statement said. “We will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line.”
Tuesday’s satellite launch was the North’s third attempt this year following two previous failures, and it came after a rare visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during which President Vladimir Putin offered to assist Pyongyang in building satellites.
According to South Korean officials, the latest launch most certainly entailed Russian technical help as part of an expanding collaboration in which Pyongyang has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells.
Russia and North Korea have denied any arms agreements while promising increased collaboration.
“From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement,” the statement said. “We will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line.”
Tuesday’s satellite launch was the North’s third attempt this year following two previous failures, and it came after a rare visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during which President Vladimir Putin offered to assist Pyongyang in building satellites.
According to South Korean officials, the latest launch most certainly entailed Russian technical help as part of an expanding collaboration in which Pyongyang has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells.
Russia and North Korea have denied any arms agreements while promising increased collaboration.
(With inputs from agencies)