North Korea threatens to restart propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy more weapons at South Korea border
North Korea issues warning
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said Monday that the military was considering renewed broadcasts and additional weapons along the southern border. She accused South Korea of firing warning shots and broadcasting warnings after what she described as North Korean soldiers crossing the border.
Kim said the actions had crossed a “red line” since the mine blasts. She described the situation as grave and referred to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.
Mine blasts fuel dispute
The blasts on Sept. 21 injured three South Korean soldiers. Earlier this month, South Korea blamed mines planted by North Korea and called on Pyongyang to apologize and remove other mines.
North Korea denied responsibility and warned of retaliation if provoked. South Korea’s military has said North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line 50 times this year during fortification work; it said it responded with warning shots and broadcasts.
A tense border history
North Korea has added mines, barbed wire fences, anti-tank barriers and other defenses along the frontier as it pursues a policy of ending ties with South Korea. The South Korean military did not immediately respond to Monday’s warning.
In 2015, mine blasts blamed on North Korea maimed two South Korean soldiers and brought the countries close to armed conflict. South Korea then resumed loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years; both sides later halted their broadcasts after President Lee Jae Myung took office last year and sought better ties.
Key points
- North Korea threatened to resume propaganda broadcasts and deploy more weapons near the South Korean border.
- Three South Korean soldiers were injured in Sept. 21 mine blasts.
- South Korea blamed North Korea for the mines; North Korea denied responsibility.
- South Korea says North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line 50 times this year.