North Korea has openly deployed self-propelled artillery and armoured vehicles near the border with South Korea. On Monday, 26 October, Reuters journalists spotted three armoured vehicles with their barrels pointing south. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, these are 122-mm self-propelled howitzers. The display of military hardware took place against the backdrop of a new diplomatic row between Pyongyang and Seoul over a landmine explosion in the demilitarised zone.
- North Korea has openly deployed self-propelled artillery near the border with South Korea.
- Reuters spotted three armoured vehicles with their gun barrels pointing south.
- According to Yonhap, these are 122-mm self-propelled howitzers.
- North Korean soldiers were also spotted near the border, erecting fences.
- Pyongyang and Seoul have exchanged accusations over a landmine explosion in the demilitarised zone.
North Korea has deployed howitzers near the border
On 26 October, a Reuters journalist at a South Korean observation post near the town of Gimpo spotted three North Korean armoured vehicles positioned in open terrain near the border. The barrels of the artillery pieces were pointed towards South Korea.
The Yonhap News Agency has identified the equipment as 122-mm self-propelled howitzers. According to South Korean media reports, the artillery pieces were located in the coastal area of Kephung County, opposite the Egebon observation post.
Near the artillery positions, journalists also spotted around 20–30 North Korean soldiers erecting fences inside the demilitarised zone.
Professor at Kyungnam University in South Korea Lim Il-chul He described such an open display of self-propelled artillery as unusual for the DPRK. In his view, by showcasing its weaponry, Pyongyang is signalling its readiness to enforce its border policy by force and is warning Seoul against further escalation.
Pyongyang has accused Seoul of provocations at the border
The deployment of artillery pieces coincided with yet another diplomatic standoff between the two countries.
According to the North Korean news agency KCNA, the DPRK’s mission sent a letter to the UN Security Council accusing South Korea of fabricating the circumstances mine incident 21 September.
An explosion then occurred in the demilitarised zone, injuring South Korean soldiers. Seoul stated that the explosion was caused by mines laid by the North Korean military beyond the military demarcation line.
The UN command, which oversees compliance with the ceasefire agreement, has deemed the planting of a North Korean mine beyond the demarcation line to be a breach of the agreement.
Pyongyang rejects the allegations and claims that South Korea is using the incident to justify its own actions at the border.
In its address to the UN, the DPRK also warned that any violation of its sovereignty could result in appropriate self-defence measures.
South Korea proposes talks to ease tensions
In recent years, North Korea has been actively developing its border areas, constructing military roads, erecting barriers and laying mines in certain sections near the demarcation line.
Seoul states that the South Korean military uses loudspeaker warnings and warning shots when North Korean soldiers cross the demarcation line.
Against a backdrop of rising tensions, the South Korean Ministry of Defence has proposed holding military talks with Pyongyang to reduce the risk of accidental clashes.
A similar conflict arose in August 2015 after South Korean soldiers were killed by landmines in the demilitarised zone. At that time, the standoff was accompanied by the resumption of propaganda broadcasts via loudspeakers and ended with high-level agreements.
