North Korea blew up a liaison office in South Korea
Friday, July 19, 2020
UPDATimes - North Korea finally explained why it blew up a liaison office with South Korea on Tuesday (16/06) located in a border city.
Through an article published in state media, North Korea accused South Korea of violating an agreement reached by both in 2018 and called South Korea a "mutt."
Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un's younger brother, Kim Yo-jong, called South Korean president Moon Jae-in "hanging his neck in a rope made by supporters of the failure of the United States."
Although South Korea says it is still willing to negotiate, South Korea has condemned the blasting as North Korea's unreasonable and destructive action.
North Korea has also again threatened to place its troops in the border demilitarized zone. He warned of "total destruction" that would be faced by both countries.
Tension between North Korea and South Korea has increased dramatically in recent weeks, partly due to North Korean origin waders who send propaganda over the border.
What did North Korea say?
North Korean state media blamed South Korea "for systematically violating and destroying" agreements reached in 2018, including the Panmunjom Declaration.
The article juxtaposes the South Korean Defense Minister with a "fierce mutt" who "brags and bluffs, terrifies his dialogue partners and triggers a confrontational atmosphere."
The article concluded with a warning that an office explosion on Tuesday (6/16) could have been "the beginning of a total collapse of North-South Korean relations."
Meanwhile, the North Korean military has said it will deploy troops to two locations that have been a symbol of North Korea-South Korea's cooperation in the past: the now closed Kaesong industrial complex and the Mount Kumgang tourist zone on the east coast.
"The reason why the north-south agreement, which was very good ... was not implemented at all, was because the South Korean Defense Minister hung his neck on a rope made by supporters of the failure of the United States.
"Even before the ink of the north-south agreement dried up, he accepted the 'South Korea-US working group' under the coercion of his master."
Kim Jong Un
How did South Korea respond?
South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office said on Wednesday (6/17) that North Korea's actions made no sense. He also warned that Seoul would no longer accept North Korea's unfounded behavior.
Although the liaison office was blown up, South Korea said it still hoped the agreement reached in 2018 in Pyongyang could be respected.
"Our fundamental position is that the military agreement of September 19 must be properly obeyed to uphold peace on the Korean Peninsula and prevent accidental clashes," South Korea's defense minister said.
However, he warned that any military action by North Korea would be closely monitored, and he would "respond strongly" to any military provocation.
South Korea also offered to send a special delegation to cool the voltage this time, but North Korea immediately rejected the idea.
Photo of blasting of a liaison office published by North Korean media
How did South Korea respond?
South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office said on Wednesday (6/17) that North Korea's actions made no sense. He also warned that Seoul would no longer accept North Korea's unfounded behavior.
Although the liaison office was blown up, South Korea said it still hoped the agreement reached in 2018 in Pyongyang could be respected.
"Our fundamental position is that the military agreement of September 19 must be properly obeyed to uphold peace on the Korean Peninsula and prevent accidental clashes," South Korea's defense minister said.
However, he warned that any military action by North Korea would be closely monitored, and he would "respond strongly" to any military provocation.
South Korea also offered to send a special delegation to cool the voltage this time, but North Korea immediately rejected the idea.
Why this happened?
North Korea's official explanation is because Pyongyang was angry at the propaganda from South Korea crossing its border. But this propaganda is not new.
Activist groups in South Korea often send balloons across the border carrying objects such as leaflets condemning human rights violations committed by Pyongyang.
Analysts say North Korea may deliberately try to make the situation worse to get a better position if diplomacy talks between the two countries continue,
This is a message intended for Seoul and Washington DC, Jeongmin Kim, North Korea's NK News media correspondent in Seoul, told the BBC.
The explosion of the liaison office "has nothing to do with US-North Korea relations," Jeongmin said.
But "the detonation could serve as a message that North Korea is prepared not to engage in widely publicized goodwill gestures, as it did in the past - if they don't get what they want."
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