South Korean authorities belatedly identified a large-scale shipwreck incident in North Korea, which resulted in the death of approximately 90 people late last month. There is a report that the internal structure of the North Korean military experienced turmoil for a while, and recent various North Korean provocations towards the South could be related to this incident.
On the 3rd, TV Chosun exclusively reported, “A ship carrying about 130 North Korean soldiers sank in a river while heading towards the border of Gangwon Province due to overloading, resulting in the death of about 90 people.” These soldiers were mobilized to install a borderline at the inter-Korean border.
The media suggested, “After the shipwreck, Kang Sun Nam, the Deputy Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, visited the site and instructed to prepare measures to prevent recurrence, but the internal unrest in the North Korean military was significant.”
In relation, Professor Park Won Gon of the North Korean Studies Department at Ewha Womans University told the media, “It is a situation that is bound to be known no matter how much they try to hide it from the military morale aspect,” adding, “They are creating external tension to unite internally.”
South Korean authorities also believe that the recent complex provocations by North Korea are related to this incident.
The media explained that North Korea may be using provocations against South Korea to divert attention and suppress dissatisfaction within the military due to the large-scale shipwreck.
Meanwhile, as North Korea continues threatening provocations such as satellite launches and trash balloon dispersals, the government decided to suspend the effect of the 9/19 Military Agreement at the cabinet meeting today (4th).
If the consultation is scrapped, it is expected that loudspeaker broadcasts in North Korea and firing drills around the Military Demarcation Line will become possible.
With the lifting of restrictions on military action in the front-line areas, the military can respond immediately, encompassing land, sea, and air, in the event of further provocations by North Korea.
The South Korean government also plans to discuss support measures for citizens affected by North Korea’s trash balloon attacks on the same day.
High-ranking government officials from various departments, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Unification, and the Ministry of Government Legislation, will attend today’s closed-door meeting. An official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, “This is the first meeting to support citizens affected by the trash balloons. We have no plans to disclose the contents as it is an internal meeting.”
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