Statement of DPRK Ministry of National Defence

The DPRK Ministry of National Defence released a statement, entitled "Those of the 'Republic of Korea' can never evade the responsibility for scrapping the north-south military agreement and must pay dearly for it", on November 23. The following is the full text:

The DPRK's launch of a reconnaissance satellite is a step pertaining to the right to self-defence and the legitimate and just exercise of sovereignty which is aimed at closely monitoring and thoroughly coping with various military moves of the enemy around the Korean peninsula that arouse graver concern as the days go by.

However, the political and military gangsters of the "Republic of Korea" have gone extremely hysterical with confrontation, labelling the legal right of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a violation of UN "resolutions" and an "illegal act".

At an emergency meeting of the standing committee of the "national security council" and a "state council meeting", the south Korean traitors termed the DPRK's launch of a reconnaissance satellite a "violation" of the north-south military agreement, citing unreasonable and illogical reasons, and didn't hesitate to announce the nullification of some articles of the agreement as if they have eagerly waited for that moment to find a pretext.

It is just the "ROK" that has scaled up in an all-round, 3-D and phased way various sorts of military provocations in blatant defiance of the spirit of the agreement adopted to remove the danger of an armed conflict along the Military Demarcation Line.

The September 19 North-South Military Agreement has long been reduced to a mere scrap of paper owing to the intentional and provocative moves of those of the "ROK".

The enemy’s reckless act of abruptly nullifying some articles of the military agreement over the recent reconnaissance satellite launch of the DPRK is a vivid expression of their hostility toward the DPRK and a reflection of their uneasiness about the impending threat.

Those of the "ROK" must pay dearly for their irresponsible and grave political and military provocations that have pushed the present situation to an uncontrollable phase.

Upon authorization of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK clarifies the following principled stand under the current situation:

1. From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement.

It is the conclusion we have reached once again that we cannot recognize any agreement with those of the "ROK" who have broken without hesitation the elementary faith with the partner and definite promise already declared to the world and that we must refuse to deal with them.

2. We will immediately restore all military measures that have been halted according to the north-south military agreement.

We will withdraw the military steps which were taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spaces including the ground, sea and air and deploy more powerful armed forces and the latest military hardware in the areas along the Military Demarcation Line.

3. Those of the "ROK" will be held wholly accountable in case an irretrievable clash breaks out between the north and the south.

The most dangerous situation in the areas along the Military Demarcation Line, where the world's most acute military confrontation lingers and any slight accidental factor may lead an armed conflict to an all-out war, has now become irreversibly uncontrollable due to the serious mistake made by the political and military gangsters of the "ROK".

The prevailing military tensions caused by the enemy's anti-DPRK confrontation hysteria that has gone beyond the red line more clearly proves the justice and validity of the work for strengthening the nuclear war deterrent and modernizing the armed forces we are stepping up before anything else.

The DPRK armed forces will always maintain overwhelming and offensive posture and closely watch the enemy's confrontation hysteria.