South Korean military considers response to North Korea's latest move?

The South Korean military is considering restoring the guard post in response to North Korea's latest move to redeploy weapons in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to Yonhap.

South and North Korea destroyed 10 guard posts each in the DMZ following an inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement signed in 2018, while each side kept one intact but unarmed post due to its historical value.

Under the agreement, the guard post in Goseong, about 155 kilometers northeast of the South Korean capital Seoul, was preserved as a cultural heritage asset. In addition to the destroyed guard posts, South Korea and North Korea are believed to have 50 and 150 guard posts in the DMZ, respectively.

Quân đội Hàn Quốc đang cân nhắc đáp trả động thái mới nhất của Triều Tiên? - Ảnh 1. — The Goseong guard post was one of the first guard posts established after the Korean War (1950-1953).

The Goseong guard post, a symbolic facility and one of the first guard posts established after the Korean War (1950-1953), may be restored to normal operation as part of South Korea's corresponding measures against North Korea's reestablishment of such facilities along the inter-Korean border, Yonhap reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

"Compared to the 10 other destroyed guard posts, the Goseong guard post is relatively easy to restore because the facility is still intact. In addition, the facility is located in an important strategic area," Yonhap quoted a South Korean military official as saying.

The South Korean military is also preparing to equip temporary monitoring stations and weapons in response to North Korea's redeployment of troops and heavy weapons at the DMZ, according to sources.

North Korea cancels military agreement with South Korea, announces new weapons deployment

The latest move came after South Korea said it would restore all military measures suspended under the 2018 agreement, after Seoul suspended part of the agreement in protest at Pyongyang's launch of a military spy satellite on the evening of November 21.

According to photos released by the South Korean Defense Ministry, North Korean soldiers are setting up temporary guard posts, apparently carrying guns, and standing guard at night inside the DMZ.

South Korean officials said they were closely monitoring North Korean activities near the border and would take necessary steps to counter North Korea's "provocations," according to Yonhap.

In an interview with KBS TV on November 27, South Korean Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said the South Korean military plans to restore guard posts along the inter-Korean border in response to Pyongyang sending soldiers and weapons back to the DMZ.

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