North Korea arms itself on the border with the South

Tensions Rise on the Korean Peninsula Border

With the launch of a North Korean spy satellite, South Korea temporarily halted a military agreement with its neighbor. Pyongyang retaliated by deploying troops to the border and rebuilding guard posts in the area, as ruled by Kim Jong Un.

According to South Korean army sources, North Korea has resumed constructing guard posts along the southern border, following the suspension of the military accord. They also dispatched armed personnel and equipment, a military official disclosed, as demonstrated in a photograph released by the army, depicting four North Korean soldiers erecting a wooden guard post in the demilitarized zone.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing army information, that the eleven military checkpoints eliminated under the agreement would be reestablished. North Korea had warned earlier of deploying "well-armed forces" and "new kinds of military equipment" on the Korean Peninsula border.

Last Wednesday, South Korea declared its decision to limit the 2018 military agreement and reconstruct border surveillance mechanisms, preceding the spy satellite release, dubbed "Malligyong-1," by North Korea. The satellite was launched into space following two failed attempts, sparking international condemnation. The United States and South Korea, in particular, expressed concerns regarding the potential destabilizing impact on the region.

During a visit to the Pyongyang space control center, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction with the satellite's intelligence-gathering preparations, scheduled to commence on December 1st, as reported by the state news agency KCNA. The satellite's launch was severely criticized by both nations, who fear its impact on the regional security landscape.

Due to South Korea's suspension of the military agreement in response to the satellite launch, there are rising concerns about an escalation in the North Korea conflict. This recent development further entails North Korea rebuilding guard posts and deploying troops along the border with South Korea.

Contextual Information:

1. In retaliation to the South Korea's decision to partially suspend a 2018 military agreement following the spy satellite launch by North Korea, Pyongyang announced that it would cease the agreement and retract all implemented measures aimed at alleviating strain and minimizing conflict risk.
2. The North Korean Defense Ministry suggested it would send new weapons and additional forces to the borderline, signaling an increased military readiness.
3. The South Korean military reported detecting several North Korean soldiers appearing in diverse locations along the demilitarized zone, suggesting the resurgence of guard posts.
4. South Korea has communicated its intent to reinforce surveillance along the inter-Korean border due to these actions, expressing concerns about an escalation in tensions.
5. North Korea's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, by reportedly dispatching troops to substitute frontline casualties, has further worsened the situation. These deployments have been condemned by the U.S. and South Korean militaries, who have implicated North Korea in providing Russia with military assistance.