(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Kim Cheol-seon and Kim Hyo-jung = The South Korean military announced on the 20th that the so-called 'border demarcation' construction that North Korea is carrying out around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) is expected to be completed around 2028.
The Ministry of National Defense announced this in a report to the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on this day, saying, "We are responding in an integrated and systematic manner to North Korea's push for so-called 'border line fortification', such as installing obstacles in the MDL area and increasing military power in the border area."
After North Korea's State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un declared inter-Korean relations as 'two hostile countries' in December 2023, 'border demarcation' work, including the installation of barren land, barbed wire fences, and minefields, began in the MDL area in April of the following year, and the military predicted that this work would be completed next year.
The military explained that about 90% of the 250km MDL has been completed on barren land, and about 30-60% of the work on installing barbed wire fences and minefields has been completed.
The Ministry of National Defense announced that in response to North Korea's installation of obstacles and changes in military activities in the MDL area, it is strengthening the vigilance of our military through an AI-based GOP surveillance system and the deployment of reconnaissance drones and ground surveillance equipment.
According to what the Ministry of National Defense reported to the National Defense Commission on this day, the North Korean military is pursuing the deployment of new weapon systems such as new 240mm and 600mm multiple rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, and tactical missiles in the border area.
Among these, the 600mm super-large multiple rocket launcher (KN-25) is a type of short-range ballistic missile that North Korea claims can be equipped with a tactical nuclear warhead, the 'Hwasan-31'.
Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek answered "Yes," when Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the People's Power Party asked, "Do you mean it has been confirmed that 600mm multiple rocket launchers, self-propelled artillery, and tactical missiles are being deployed in the forward area near the DMZ?"
However, at the afternoon meeting that followed, it was corrected, “I said this in the sense that we are preemptively tracking the 600mm multiple rocket launcher because it has the potential to be deployed forward.”
An official from the Ministry of National Defense explained that although North Korea is acting as if the 600mm multiple rocket launcher is actually deployed, the circumstances of its operational deployment have not been captured so far, adding, “It is evaluated that it is being prepared for operational deployment.”
In response to North Korea's movements, our military is strengthening its surveillance and firepower, including division-level artillery radar and military power, and establishing a new anti-drone integrated system in the border area and a small drone response system in the deep area, updating expected targets of provocations, and preparing for counter-power warfare.
The Ministry of National Defense explained that it judged that North Korea's border demarcation work was an act of reducing and dismantling the buffer zone specified in the armistice agreement, and that it would respond in cooperation with the United Nations Command, including a joint investigation of North Korean military activities in the MDL area in violation of the armistice agreement.
The Ministry of National Defense also assessed that North Korea is pursuing military modernization by reflecting the quantitative and qualitative advancement of its nuclear weapons and missiles, its experience participating in the Russia-Ukraine War, and aspects of modern warfare, and is also strengthening its nuclear and conventional forces.
It is analyzed that the development of various types of missiles and the expansion of nuclear warhead and nuclear material production capabilities are being promoted, and military modernization work is in progress, including destroyers, new tanks, self-propelled guns, and unmanned aerial vehicles, under the parallel nuclear and conventional line.
The Ministry of National Defense said, "While maintaining our military's solid military preparedness and strengthening its capabilities, we will preemptively respond to North Korea's so-called border fortification in close cooperation with relevant organizations."
The Ministry of National Defense announced that it is conducting a special inspection to establish operational discipline in relation to the controversy over unspared ammunition by GP and GOP border units and the misidentification of U.S. military drones that recently occurred in the Army's 1st Corps.
A joint special discipline inspection TF has been formed centered around the Office of the Inspector General of the Ministry of National Defense, and special inspections are being conducted targeting the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army Ground Operations Command, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Corps, the 2nd Marine Corps Division, and the Air Force Operations Command.
In addition, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it will pursue major defense policies such as the transfer of wartime operational control, the construction of nuclear-powered submarines, and the establishment of the Armed Forces Academy, which integrates each military academy.
We plan to complete the roadmap to accelerate the OPCON transfer this year and determine the timing (Year
Regarding nuclear submarines, the goal is to pursue discussions and conclude an agreement with the United States on the transfer of nuclear materials for military purposes in order to secure nuclear fuel, and to complete the establishment of a legal and institutional foundation for the construction of nuclear submarines by next year.
Minister Ahn Gyu-baek said at the National Assembly, "The President emphasized that the pace of overall national affairs will be increased as we enter the second year of the government's term," and added, "We ask for your interest and support so that key issues such as the establishment of the Military Academy and restoration of wartime operational control can be smoothly promoted."
