SEOUL: South Korea’s Defense Minister, Shin Won-sik, strongly warned North Korea on Wednesday that the state would face a “hell of destruction” if it engages in any “reckless” actions that undermine peace.
The warning comes in the wake of North Korea’s recent launch of a military spy satellite, which has strained an inter-Korean military agreement established to de-escalate tensions on the peninsula.
In a meeting with top military commanders, Minister Shin emphasized the severe consequences that North Korea would face if it jeopardizes the peace on the Korean Peninsula. This follows Shin’s recent fiery remarks, including a threat of lethal missile strikes on “the heart and head” of Pyongyang in the event of war.
The launch of North Korea’s military spy satellite has heightened security concerns, with the regime claiming that it provides images of major US and South Korean military sites. The inter-Korean military agreement, designed to reduce tensions, has suffered fractures, leading both countries to increase security measures along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates them.
South Korea, Japan and US Announces Initiatives to Counter North Korea
Last week, South Korea, Japan, and the United States announced “new trilateral initiatives” to counter North Korea, including a real-time data-sharing operation on missile launches. The allies have been at the forefront of global condemnation of North Korea for breaching several UN Security Council resolutions with its November satellite launch.
The new initiatives also encompass measures addressing Pyongyang’s involvement in cybercrime, cryptocurrency, and money laundering activities, believed to fund the regime’s nuclear and missile programs. Defense Minister Shin criticized the previous South Korean administration’s pacifist approach to Pyongyang, labeling it a “well-orchestrated scam.”
