North Korea has said it would deploy stronger armed forces and new weapons on its border with the South, a day after Seoul suspended part of a 2018 military accord between the two Koreas in a protest over Pyongyang’s launch of a spy satellite.
North Korea’s defence ministry said in a statement stated that it would restore all military measures it had halted under the deal with South Korea, which was designed to de-escalate tension along their shared border.
The statement further noted that Southern army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement and it will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line.
South Korean officials said the latest launch most likely involved Russian technical assistance under a growing partnership that has seen Pyongyang supply Russia with millions of artillery shells.
Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals but have promised deeper cooperation, including on satellites.
