South Korean military suspected of inciting provocations from North Korea. What does the Ministry of Defense have to say about this?

The Ministry of Defense of South Korea has dismissed accusations that the suspension of the inter-Korean military agreement and the resumption of propaganda broadcasts via loudspeakers at the border with North Korea were aimed at provoking Pyongyang ahead of the military state of emergency declared by the president in December.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Yonhap.

On Monday, January 13, the ministry of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) released an official response in reaction to suspicions raised by the opposition bloc and reported by several media outlets.

The South Korean defense agency was accused of "intentionally" engaging in such actions to incite North Korea to carry out provocations in connection with the short-term declaration of a state of emergency by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3, 2024.

"Our military has been restraining provocations from North Korea through a consistent policy towards the North, while maintaining a strong military readiness," the Ministry of Defense stated.

The agency also mentioned that some link "such routine military actions and measures to the situation regarding the state of emergency."

This, according to the Ministry of Defense, has raised security concerns and may "hinder our military activities."

Thus, the South Korean agency urged against making such allegations and promised to closely cooperate with the investigation into the declaration of a state of emergency in the country, which has sparked a major scandal.

Similarly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea previously rejected accusations that when Kim Yong-hyun was Minister of Defense, the agency sent propaganda leaflets to North Korea to provoke military actions.

It is noteworthy that Hyun is accused in South Korea as a key figure in the case concerning the failed declaration of a state of emergency.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff also denied suspicions that it attempted to conceal evidence following alleged drone flights over Pyongyang in October 2024.

Recall that in June, the National Security Council under the South Korean president decided to completely suspend the inter-Korean agreement on reducing tensions from 2018 in response to North Korea's mass sending of balloons carrying waste across the border.

Subsequently, the South Korean military resumed propaganda broadcasting against Pyongyang via loudspeakers near the border.

It was also previously reported that on December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency in the country. It lasted for about six hours, after which the president apologized for this decision.

On December 14, impeachment proceedings were announced against President Yoon Suk Yeol in South Korea. Meanwhile, the head of state is avoiding legal proceedings regarding the impeachment case.