N. Korea successfully launches spy satellite amid Pres. Yoon’s state visit to UK

北 “군사정찰위성 성공 발사“ 9•19 군사합의 ’파기’ 선언 North Korea launched a military spy satellite on Tuesday night which according to Seoul’s National Intelligence Service, has successfully been placed into orbit. This came after two failed attempts -one in May and one in August and the agency links success this time to possible assistance from Russia. In response, South Korea partially suspended the 2018 Inter-Korean military agreement restoring reconnaissance and surveillance operations near the border. North Korea has vowed to restore all military measures halted under the very military accord. Such heightening tensions came at a time when President Yoon Suk Yeol was on a state visit to the United Kingdom. What are the details of North Korea’s spy satellite launch? And with the UK, how does South Korea intend to boost its defense and security ties? For this, in the studio, we have Professor Min Jeong-hun from the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Welcome, Professor Min. We also have David Cox, a journalist from the Guardian. Good to see you, David. (MIN) Q1. North Korea launched a spy satellite for the third time on Tuesday night after two unsuccessful launches in May and August. Before we talk about the details though, was it successful? (MIN) Q2. We would have to wait and see how the satellite would actually work. But even if the reconnaissance satellite called the Malligyong-1 has successfully been placed into orbit, some say it is a different matter whether it will function properly and be of any great military use. What is your view on this? (MIN) Q3. The National Intelligence Service did link this time’s success to potential assistance from Russia. To what extent do you believe Russia would have given technical support regarding launching this spy satellite? (MIN) Q4. Regarding the timeline some point out that the reason North Korea fired the spy satellite when it did is because South Korea is soon to launch a domestically-developed reconnaissance satellite in November in California. Could you tell us more about this project and could this have been one of the reasons why Pyongyang fired this satellite? (MIN) Q5. In response to North Korea’s launch, the South Korean government partially suspended a provision of the September 19th military agreement. What was the clause about? And how did you see North Korea’s reaction to this? (DAVID) Q6. The provocation took place amid President Yoon’s state visit to Britain. And so, let’s briefly talk about what was agreed in London Yoon and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed on a new bilateral framework called the Downing Street Accord. What was this about? (DAVID) Q7. President Yoon underlined how South Korea and the UK are going to tackle North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction threats. along with international cyber crimes including cryptocurrency theft and technology hacking. In what ways could it be done and what is the UK’s view on this? (DAVID) Q8. Cooperation in defense and security is further going to be strengthened as both countries agreed to expand joint exercises including joint maritime patrols. To what extent are military ties expected to be boosted? (MIN) Q9. In response to the regime’s launch, South Korea could come up with its own unilateral sanctions and on top of that chief nuclear envoys from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan also said they would roll out measures against the regime, though details have not yet been unveiled. What could such measures be? (MIN) Q10. Meanwhile, China urged all parties to remain “calm and restrained“, while saying it is in the interest of all parties to ensure peace, and stability on the Korean Peninsula. What might China’s stance on this be? (COX) Q11. Amid ongoing provocations from the North how is the UK seeing tensions on the peninsula, and against what backdrop is the UK seeing the importance of the Indo-Pacific region that led its defense minister to say it will jointly counter North Korea’s aggressive moves with South Korea and work together to secure the safety of the Indo-Pacific region? Unfortunately, that’s all the time we have for today’s edition. Thank you Professor Min, and Mr. Cox for your insights. We appreciate it. #SouthKorea #NorthKorea #Spy_satellite #2018_military_agreement #대한민국 #북한 #2018_군사_합의 #정찰_위성 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : 📣 Twitter : 📣 Homepage : 2023-11-23, 18:30 (KST)