N. Korean soldiers in Panmunjom Joint Security Area reportedly carrying sidearms

북한군 판문점 근무자 권총 착용 신원식 “망동은 파멸의 시작“ North Korea is apparently arming its soldiers in the Joint Security Area with sidearms, as it continues to raise tensions more heavily since last week. Today, a stern warning came from South Korea’s defense chief. Our North Korean affairs correspondent Kim Jung-sil reports. Pyongyang is reportedly arming its soldiers who are deployed at Panmunjom Joint Security Area. Yonhap News reported on Tuesday, citing multiple South Korean and American military sources, that since the latter half of last week, North Korean soldiers have been carrying sidearms while on duty. South Korean soldiers in the area remain unarmed. The United Nations Command, which is in charge of the Joint Security Area, is reportedly weighing options while closely monitoring Pyongyang’s moves. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik strongly condemned the North on Tuesday afternoon saying “any careless maneuver that undermines peace is the beginning of ruin.“ According to the Ministry of National Defense, Shin ordered the military to “retaliate decisively“ if the enemy makes any provocative moves. The JSA is where the historic Panmunjom Declaration between then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was unveiled in 2018. To fully implement the declaration, the two sides later reached an inter-Korean military agreement the same year to reduce tension on both sides of the Military Demarcation Line as well as in the Joint Security Area. Since the agreement, soldiers of both sides in Panmunjom went unarmed while on duty. If the North persists in arming its troops in the JSA, it’s possible that South Korean soldiers will be ordered to carry firearms. “Our military will continue to closely monitor North Korean moves and take necessary countermeasures.” Pyongyang’s decision to arm its soldiers at the JSA came after it began rebuilding guard posts along the inter-Korean border starting late last week, and reportedly arming them with heavier weapons. The regime has been actively ramping up its military options after it virtually terminated the inter-Korean military agreement, following the South Korean government’s decision to partially suspend a clause relating to aerial reconnaissance, due to North Korea’s launch of a spy satellite. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News. #SouthKorea #NorthKorea #Soldier #Panmunjom #Arming #UNC #대한민국 #북한 #군인 #무기 #판문점 #2018_군사_합의 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : 📣 Twitter : 📣 Homepage : 2023-11-28, 18:00 (KST)