South Korea partially suspends inter-Korean agreement after North Korea launches spy satellite

(22 Nov 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seoul - 22 November 2023
1. Wide of Heo Tae-keun, South Korean Deputy Minister of National Defence Policy, arriving at news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Heo Tae-keun, South Korean Deputy Minister of National Defence Policy:
"Despite our military's warning, North Korea went ahead with the military spy satellite launch yesterday. North Korea's so-called military spy satellite launch is a clear violation of a UN Security Council resolution that prohibits North Korea from firing ballistic missiles and a provocation that threatens our national security."
3. Close of journalist
4. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Heo Tae-keun, South Korean Deputy Minister of National Defence Policy:
"After the cabinet meeting and sending notifications to North Korea, the government has decided to suspend Article 1 Clause 3 of the 9.19 inter-Korean agreement as of 15:00 today. The military will restore aerial reconnaissance and surveillance in the area around the Military Demarcation Line."
5. Mid of journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Heo Tae-keun, South Korean Deputy Minister of National Defence Policy:
"The government and defence ministry's measure is necessary in order to protect South Korean people's lives and safety from North Korea's nuclear threats and various provocations. It is also a corresponding response to North Korea's provocations and the minimal defensive measure. North Korea is responsible for the current situation and if North Korea carries out provocations, our military, with strong South Korean-US defence posture as the foundation, will immediately punish further provocations."
7. End of briefing
STORYLINE:
South Korea on Wednesday announced the partial suspension of a landmark inter-Korean military agreement, hours after North Korea said it launched a spy satellite.

Heo Tae-keun, the South Korean Deputy Minister of National Defence Policy, said, as of 3 p.m Wednesday, "the government has decided to suspend Article 1 Clause 3 of the 9.19 inter-Korean agreement."

The move allows South Korea to immediately resume surveillance and reconnaissance of North Korea along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

Heo also emphasised that North Korea is "responsible" for the suspension of the agreement and further provocations will be met with a "strong" response from the South Korea-US alliance.

Earlier, North Korea said it placed a spy satellite into orbit with its third launch attempt this year.

The North’s claim could not immediately independently be confirmed.

Observers doubt whether the satellite is advanced enough to perform military reconnaissance.

AP video by Yong Jun Chang

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