Statement by DPRK Ministry of National Defense

 

Pyongyang, November 23 (KCNA) -- The following is the full text of "Those of the 'Republic of Korea' can never evade the responsibility for scrapping the north-south military agreement and must pay dearly for it", a statement made public by the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK on November 23:

The DPRK's launch of a reconnaissance satellite is a step pertaining to the right to self-defense and the legitimate and just exercise of sovereignty to closely monitor and thoroughly cope with the enemies' various military moves around the Korean peninsula that provoke graver concern as days go by.

Nonetheless, the political and military gangsters of the "Republic of Korea" (ROK) have gone extremely hysterical with confrontation, labeling the legal right of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a violation of UN "resolutions" and "illegal action".

At an emergency meeting of the standing committee of the "national security council" and a "state council meeting", the south Korean traitors termed the DPRK's launch of a reconnaissance satellite a "violation" of the north-south military agreement, citing unreasonable and illogical reasons, and didn't hesitate to announce the nullification of some articles of the agreement as if they have earnestly waited for that moment.

It is just the "ROK" that has scaled up in an all-round, 3-D and phased way various sorts of military provocations in frontal challenge to the spirit of the agreement adopted to defuse the danger of an armed conflict along the Military Demarcation Line.

The September 19 North-South Military Agreement has long been reduced to a mere scrap of paper owing to the intentional and provocative moves of those of the "ROK".

The enemy’s reckless act of abruptly nullifying some articles of the military agreement over the recent reconnaissance satellite launch of the DPRK is a vivid expression of their hostility toward the DPRK and a reflection of their uneasiness at the impending threat.

Those of the "ROK" must pay dearly for their irresponsible and grave political and military provocations that have pushed the present situation to an uncontrollable phase.

Upon authorization of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Ministry of National Defense of the DPRK clarifies the following principled stand under the current situation:

1.       From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement.

It is the conclusion made once again that we cannot recognize any agreement with those of the "ROK" who have broken the elementary faith with the partner and definite promise already made without hesitation and we must refuse to deal with them;

2.       We will immediately restore all military measures that have been halted according to the north-south military agreement.

We will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line; and

3.       Those of the "ROK" will be held wholly accountable in case an irretrievable clash breaks out between the north and the south.

The most dangerous situation in the area of the military demarcation line, where the world's most acute military confrontation lingers and any slight accidental factor may aggravate an armed conflict to an all-out war, has become irreversibly uncontrollable, due to the serious mistake made by the political and military gangsters of the "ROK".

The prevailing military tensions, created by the enemy's anti-DPRK confrontation hysteria that has gone beyond the red line, more clearly proves the justice of the work for strengthening the nuclear war deterrent and modernizing the armed forces being pushed forward with by us above all.

The DPRK armed forces will always maintain overwhelming and offensive posture and closely watch the enemy's confrontation hysteria.