S. Korea to resume artillery drills near inter-Korean border as buffer zones are no longer effective

군, 완충구역 무력화에 “필요한 훈련계획 수립•시행“ “9•19 군사합의 전면파기는 부처 간 협의 필요“ South Korea’s military is planning on resuming artillery drills on land and at sea, after it declared there will no longer be buffer zones on the inter-Korean border. When asked whether this means termination of the military pact with North Korea, the Defense Ministry said consultation is needed. Our defense correspondent Choi Min-jung explains. The South Korean military recently announced that the buffer zones set up along the inter-Korean border are no longer effective, following North Korea’s continued artillery fire off its western coast. The buffer zones were set up in 2018, when the two Koreas signed an inter-Korean military agreement to halt hostilities near the border. First, on the ground,. a 5-kilometer buffer zone was established in the north and south,. from the Military Demarcation Line. Here, artillery fire and regimental or higher-level field maneuvers were suspended. In the maritime buffer zone at sea, all coastal and naval artillery as well as maritime exercises were banned. In the air, a no-fly zone banned aircraft from flying within 20 kilometers of the MDL in the western section of the Demilitarized Zone, and within 40 kilometers of the zone in the east. For the first time in six years, South Korea last week conducted artillery drills within the maritime buffer zone,.. in response to the North’s artillery firing. The Defense Ministry on Tuesday revealed plans to resume artillery exercises in the buffer zone on land as well. “As you know, due to the September 19th military agreement, there were restrictions on large-scale regiment-level maneuver training, and artillery fire training within 5 kilometers from the MDL. So, there were some limitations in establishing a readiness posture in border areas with frontline units. I believe that such issues will be resolved and each unit will be able to train in better conditions.“ However, when asked if the abolition of the buffer zone means the termination of the inter-Korean military pact,.. the ministry said this is an issue that requires necessary consultation between relevant ministries. “The Defense Ministry seems to be responding to North Korea’s provocations, while the government is thinking there is no need for us to be the first to destroy the military pact as it is already dead.“ The expert added that it would be difficult for Pyongyang to pose a direct threat, as long as the South Korean military remains on high alert. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News. #SouthKorea #NorthKorea #Security #Inter_Korean_Military_Agreement #대한민국 #북한 #919_군사합의 #완충_구역 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : 📣 Twitter : 📣 Homepage : 2024-01-09, 18:00 (KST)