South Korea to Rebuild Guard Posts Amid North’s Military Buildup

Kim Tae Hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office(NSO), announced plans to restore our side’s General Post (GP) in response to North Korea’s rearming of its frontline guard post (GP). This follows the suspension of some 9.19 South-North Military Agreement provisions in response to North Korea’s reconnaissance satellite launch. With both South and North rearming their GPs, they effectively returned to the pre-9.19 South-North Military Agreement state.

In an interview with KBS on the 27th, Deputy Director Kim, when asked, “Do we plan to restore our GP?” responded, “Yes.” He emphasized, “How can we sit still while the other side is watching us from a nearby border post, armed and threatening?” He added, “It’s only right that we take corresponding measures as North Korea is recreating and rearming its frontline surveillance post. We’ll watch a little, but it’s only right that we also take corresponding measures.”

Deputy Director Kim conveyed that North Korea was intentionally dismantling the 9.19 South-North Military Agreement, concluding that suspending its effects might be unnecessary. Observers saw this as an indication that the practical significance of the remaining provisions of the 9.19 South-North Military Agreement had diminished, regardless of whether there was a process to suspend their effect. Deputy Director Kim also emphasized the need for a self-defense-oriented response by stating that “(The government) must respond in the dimension of self-defense” and mentioned their intention to respond in a measured and earnest manner, avoiding excessive actions.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Kim, regarding some claims that the government’s declaration of partial suspension of the 9.19 South-North Military Agreement exacerbates the crisis on the Korean Peninsula, pointed out, “That’s North Korea’s intention right now,” and “It’s an attempt to shake South Korea, make us feel a security threat, hesitate in our next actions, and cause division.”

According to military authorities, North Korea, after declaring a complete nullification of the 9.19 South-North Military Agreement, has been deploying troops to at least 11 GP posts and bringing in heavy weapons, among other restoration works, from the 24th. These posts had been destroyed according to the 9.19 South-North Military Agreement.

By. Joo Jae Hyun