North Korea ratchets up threats, rejects diplomatic outreach
Jun 17, 2020 3:30:59 GMT -5
Post by J.J.Gibbs on Jun 17, 2020 3:30:59 GMT -5
North Korea ratchets up threats, rejects diplomatic outreach after Kaesong blast
North Korea blows up a joint liaison office near the border with South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in this image released by the Korean Central News Agency.
By KIM GAMEL | STARS AND STRIPES
Published: June 16, 2020
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea warned of “tougher retaliation plans” and rejected diplomatic outreach on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions a day after blowing up a liaison office near the tense border.
In a trio of reports on state-run media, the North continued to raise pressure on the South over the distribution of anti-regime leaflets across the border by activists who included North Korean defectors.
South Korea warned it will “strongly respond” to further provocations after the North destroyed the liaison office on Tuesday following weeks of saber rattling and a decision to cut off communication lines with Seoul.
Elaborating on a previous threat, the North Korean army essentially said it was considering a plan that would unravel a 2018 bilateral military agreement that had been a high point in efforts to improve relations between the countries.
It threatened to deploy regiments and “necessary firepower sub-units” to the tourist area at Mount Kumgang and the Kaesong industrial zone, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
“Civil police posts that had been withdrawn from the Demilitarized Zone under the north-south agreement in the military field will be set up again to strengthen the guard over the front line,” KCNA said, quoting a spokesman for the army’s general staff.
Artillery units along the frontier, including the seas off the western coast, would reinforce those on combat duty and “will resume all kinds of regular military exercises in the areas close to the boundary,” it added.
The spokesman also was quoted as saying that military and other security measures would be taken to prevent leaflets from being scattered in North Korea.
Story continues at link
North Korea blows up a joint liaison office near the border with South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in this image released by the Korean Central News Agency.
By KIM GAMEL | STARS AND STRIPES
Published: June 16, 2020
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea warned of “tougher retaliation plans” and rejected diplomatic outreach on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions a day after blowing up a liaison office near the tense border.
In a trio of reports on state-run media, the North continued to raise pressure on the South over the distribution of anti-regime leaflets across the border by activists who included North Korean defectors.
South Korea warned it will “strongly respond” to further provocations after the North destroyed the liaison office on Tuesday following weeks of saber rattling and a decision to cut off communication lines with Seoul.
Elaborating on a previous threat, the North Korean army essentially said it was considering a plan that would unravel a 2018 bilateral military agreement that had been a high point in efforts to improve relations between the countries.
It threatened to deploy regiments and “necessary firepower sub-units” to the tourist area at Mount Kumgang and the Kaesong industrial zone, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
“Civil police posts that had been withdrawn from the Demilitarized Zone under the north-south agreement in the military field will be set up again to strengthen the guard over the front line,” KCNA said, quoting a spokesman for the army’s general staff.
Artillery units along the frontier, including the seas off the western coast, would reinforce those on combat duty and “will resume all kinds of regular military exercises in the areas close to the boundary,” it added.
The spokesman also was quoted as saying that military and other security measures would be taken to prevent leaflets from being scattered in North Korea.
Story continues at link