Seoul: The South Korean military on Monday condemned North Korea's expanded border fencing, describing it as a breach of the armistice agreement that paused the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. This response follows reports that new fences have been constructed alarmingly close to the inter-Korean border.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea has installed barbed wire fences just 80-90 meters from the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that divides the two Koreas. The report also notes that land has been cleared to plant mines as near as 5-10 meters to the MDL, based on information from military sources and a lawmaker.
Following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's declaration in late 2023 that inter-Korean ties are akin to those between hostile states, North Korea has been reinforcing its border since April 2024. The efforts include strengthening barbed wire fences, planting mines, and erecting anti-tank barriers along the MDL.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated, "The North Korean military's installation of barriers along the MDL is a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement, and our military will continue to respond in close cooperation with the United Nations Command (UNC)." The South Korean military is vigilantly observing North Korea's military activities along the border and maintaining security.
The JCS assured, "We maintain the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any North Korean provocations." South Korea perceives the North's actions as a violation of the armistice agreement, which established a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a buffer extending 2 kilometers on either side of the MDL to limit troops and heavy weapons.
Defense ministry spokesperson Chung Binna emphasized in a press briefing, "As stated in the Armistice Agreement, the buffer zone was created to prevent incidents that could lead to the resumption of hostilities. Our response is based on this specific provision of the agreement." While South Korea has also constructed tactical fences to link front-line guard posts, these are reportedly not as close to the MDL as North Korea's barriers.
In a separate communication, the United Nations Command, which oversees the enforcement of the armistice agreement, stated that these border measures "do not automatically constitute" violations of the agreement. "Activities within the DMZ must be understood in their full context and are assessed based on the specific facts, circumstances and applicable provisions of the Armistice Agreement and subsequent agreements," the UNC noted.
The UNC further added, "When appropriate, UNC addresses Armistice-related concerns through established mechanisms and remains committed to preserving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
Source: Yonhap News Agency