South Korea's Ministry Of Defense Rejects Allegations Of Provoking North Korea

North Korea's border with South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons//Republic of Korea Armed Forces)

JAKARTA - South Korea's Ministry of Defense on Monday rejected allegations that the suspension of inter-Korean military pacts and the resumption of broadcasts of anti-Pyong loudspeakers aimed at triggering provocations by North Korea ahead of the imposition of a military emergency in December.

The ministry's response comes amid suspicions raised by opposition blocs and several media reports that the military "deliberately" took part in the activity to encourage North Korea to carry out provocations in connection with the imposition of a short-term military emergency by President Yoon Suk-yeol on December 3.

"Our military has hindered North Korea's provocation through a consistent policy towards North Korea while maintaining strong military readiness," the ministry said in a statement.

"However, some parties are linking these normal military activities and actions to the military emergency situation, causing security concerns and hindering our military activities," he said, calling for no suspicion and pledging to work closely with military emergency investigations.

In particular, the ministry dismissed the view that the military was considering launching an artillery strike in response to North Korea's launch of a garbage-carrier balloon across the border last year.

The military " patiently" responded by picking up balloons that fell to the ground without firing them, stressing that the suspicion that they might be preparing for the artillery strike was "not true," the ministry said.

The Ministry of Defense stressed that all relevant measures were taken in response to North Korea's provocation and carried out based on a "normal" decision-making process.

"North Korea was the first to announce the suspension of the pact for reducing military tensions and eventually causing damage to people's property by sending balloons filled with garbage," said a ministry official.

Earlier, the presidential National Security Council in June decided to fully suspend the inter-Korean strain reduction pact in 2018, until mutual trust was restored in response to the massive shipment of balloon carrying cross-border waste by North Korea.

The military then continued its anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcast, marking the first anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcast near a heavily fortified border since January 2016.

The ministry explained that North Korea had violated the pact to reduce tensions more than 4,000 times since suspending the agreement unilaterally in December 2023.

Similar to that, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) previously rejected allegations they sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North Korea to spark military provocations when former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun took office.

It is known that Kim himself was charged with being a key figure behind the imposition of a failed military emergency by Yoon.

JCS also denied suspicions that they were trying to hide evidence after allegedly flying a drone over Pyongyang in October.

The military still maintains its stance not to confirm allegations of drone infiltration despite allegations, citing operational security.

"We urge the termination of actions that unwisely pose accusations that hinder national security," the ministry said.

"Our military will focus on maintaining strong readiness to deter North Korea," he said.