North Korea Deploys Soldiers and Equipment Near the Border Since Last Week, South Korea: We Are Monitoring

North Korea's observation post at DMZ. (Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force/Tech.Sgt. Scott Stewart)

JAKARTA - North Korea is deploying troops and military equipment near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) South Korean military officials said Monday, a concrete step seen as being aimed at restoring guard posts destroyed following the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement.

Seoul officials said South Korea's military detected increased activity in the border region, after North Korea on Thursday vowed to resume all military actions halted under the 2018 agreement.

It came in response to the partial suspension of the agreement, after North Korea launched a military spy satellite last week, according to officials.

Ginseng State military officials said heavily armed North Korean soldiers had been seen restoring damaged guard posts in several locations since Friday, citing photos taken with cameras and thermal optical devices installed in the DMZ.

"There are only a few guard posts that are undergoing restoration, but (North Korea) is expected to restore all of them because these posts are important facilities for surveillance," a senior military official told reporters, reported by The Korea Times, November 27.

In response to North Korea's actions, Seoul officials vowed to continue monitoring North Korean activities to detect signs of provocation along the border.

"We are currently monitoring enemy movements, while conducting search and ambush operations near the former guard post area, to monitor additional provocations," the official added.

It is known that South Korea and North Korea blew up 10 of 11 guard posts in the DMZ in 2018, as part of an inter-Korean agreement to reduce tensions and prevent accidental clashes, leaving each post with historical or other value. .