North Korea Defends Satellite Launch, Restores Border Guard Posts Amid Rising Tensions

North Korea has issued a warning that it will continue to exercise its sovereign rights, including satellite launches, while also accusing the United States and its allies of engaging in serious military actions. The statement comes after North Korea launched a reconnaissance satellite last week, claiming it successfully entered orbit. However, the capabilities of the satellite have not been independently verified.
The launch prompted South Korea to suspend a key clause in a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, leading to increased tensions between the two nations. North Korea, in response, declared that it was no longer bound by the agreement and announced plans to deploy weapons on the border with South Korea.
Recent reports suggest that North Korean soldiers have been observed restoring some of the guard posts on the border with the South that were previously demolished as part of the de-escalation agreement. South Korea estimates that North Korea had around 160 guard posts along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and the South had 60. Both sides had demolished 11 each after signing the military deal in 2018.
While South Korean military officials have not confirmed the reports, Yonhap news agency cited sources stating that heavily armed North Korean soldiers were seen setting up guard posts in several locations since Friday.
The United States has called for an unscheduled meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss North Korea’s satellite launch. On November 22, a statement condemning North Korea’s satellite launch was issued by nine Security Council members, including the U.S., labeling it a violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. North Korea’s foreign ministry dismissed the statement, describing the Security Council as dysfunctional and accusing some member states of blindly following the United States in issuing meaningless statements.
China and Russia, two permanent members with veto power, have resisted supporting new Security Council sanctions against North Korea despite its ongoing testing of powerful ballistic missiles. The situation adds to the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region, raising concerns about further escalation and the effectiveness of international mechanisms to address North Korea’s actions.
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