South Korea has suspended the entirety of the 2018 military agreement with North Korea, paving the way for the resumption of military operations in border areas. President Yoon Suk Yeol approved a proposal to terminate the inter-Korean pact during a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday, the presidential office said. Han said North Korea's ballistic missile launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions, and its release of trash-filled balloons also infringes upon the Korean Armistice Agreement. "We decided to suspend the entirety of the Sept. 19 military agreement until mutual trust between the South and North is restored," he said. The decision comes in response to a series of provocations by North Korea, escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, despite repeated warnings from the South. The agreement, initially signed in 2018 following an inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, aimed to suspend hostile activities on land, sea and air to prevent military confli cts. However, since February 2019, following the collapse of the much-touted North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, North Korea has repeatedly violated the agreement, building up missile and nuclear capabilities. For starters, the North fired salvos in non-combat areas near the maritime Northern Limit Line (NLL) and infiltrated drones into South Korean territory. Last November, the North declared it would scrap the military pact in retaliation against the South's response to its launch of military surveillance satellites. As a follow-up measure, the North reinstated front-line guard posts, practically nullifying the agreement. In this vein, North Korea cannot deflect criticism for having invalidated the pact, as any agreement requires adherence by both parties. North Korea's recent release of filth-laden balloons and GPS jamming offensives are despicable provocations that cannot be tolerated. Suspending the military agreement will enable the South to take appropriate measures against possible North Korean milit ary provocations. North Korea must assume accountability for the recent escalation of tensions. South Korea is also considering resuming loudspeaker broadcasts as part of psychological warfare tactics, though it has said it would not do so in the immediate future. It is worrying that the suspension of the accord will prompt potential military conflicts between the two Koreas. North Korea is likely to attempt military maneuvers, especially in vulnerable areas near the NLL and the Military Demarcation Line separating the two Koreas, reminiscent of actions before the agreement. These developments require South Korean military authorities to step up defense posture and preparedness. Strengthening the tight ROK-U.S. alliance and enhancing cooperative trilateral ties with the United States and Japan are crucial to deterring North Korean provocations. Diplomatic authorities should double down on efforts to fortify cooperation with U.N. member states to ramp up international pressure on the North. Despite current t ensions, diplomatic approaches and dialogue remain essential to easing the situation on the peninsula. A group of activist organizations mainly comprising North Korean defectors threatens to resume releasing balloons containing anti-Pyongyang materials. This raises concerns over expanded low-intensify warfare. The South Korean government, responsible for public safety, should take steps to prevent such actions from causing severe security threats. While advocating for freedom of speech, the government should urge the activists to refrain from excessive propaganda activities. It also needs to call on the North to come to the dialogue table to discuss ways to prevent tensions from escalating further. Seoul's suspension of the 2018 military agreement with North Korea marks a significant juncture in inter-Korean relations. Prudent steps are necessary to prevent abrupt conflicts and maintain stability. South Korea should take a balanced approach of enhanced defense measures and proactive diplomatic efforts and navigate these challenges while striving for long-term peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Source: Yonhap News Agency
