Title: The breakdown of the military agreement between the two Koreas has triggered tensions on the peninsula and exacerbated regional security risks.
Introduction: North Korea successfully launched the "Wanli Jing-1" reconnaissance satellite, and South Korea announced the lifting of the restrictions of the "919 Military Agreement", triggering an escalation of tensions between the two Koreas. In response, the DPRK side said that it would no longer be bound by the Panmunjom Declaration Agreement on the Implementation of the Military Field and would immediately resume all military measures that had been suspended in the past. China calls on all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, restart dialogue and rebuild mutual trust.
Body:
The DPRK recently successfully launched the "Wanlijing-1" reconnaissance satellite, triggering a deterioration in inter-Korean relations. Previously, South Korea repeatedly warned North Korea to stop launching rockets, but failed to reach a consensus. After the launch of the DPRK's reconnaissance satellite, South Korea** decisively lifted the restrictions of the "919 Military Agreement" and immediately resumed some of the military measures that had been suspended due to compliance with the agreement.
In response, the DPRK announced that it would no longer be bound by the Panmunjom Declaration Agreement on the Implementation of the Military Field and would resume all military measures. They made it clear that they were ready to fight, and in the event of an "irretrievable conflict", South Korea would take full responsibility. The Panmunjom Declaration Agreement on the Implementation of the Military Field is a subsidiary agreement reached in September 2018 between the then Moon Jae-in of South Korea and the supreme leader of North Korea to eliminate the threat of war on the peninsula and promote peaceful development.
However, in the past five years, relations between the two Koreas have taken a sharp turn for the worse, and Moon Jae-in, who signed the agreement, has also become the target of sharp criticism from South Korea. In fact, the tension on the Korean Peninsula is not only due to the disappearance of space for dialogue and the deterioration of relations between the DPRK and the ROK and the DPRK and the United States, but also due to the fact that the DPRK's demands have not been responded to and the US promises have not been fulfilled. Relations between the two Koreas have become worse as a result. South Korea** chose a "partial suspension" in terms of compliance with the Panmunjom Declaration Agreement on the Implementation of the Agreement in the Military Sphere, while the DPRK chose a "complete suspension". This asymmetrical response suggests that external forces are no longer enough to force North Korea to make concessions.
The current situation has brought inter-Korean relations to a state of "neither breaking nor standing." However, it also increases the likelihood of direct dialogue. After all, since the end of the Korean War, the situation on the peninsula has been developing in the midst of quarrels and talks. As a neighbor of the DPRK and the ROK, China not only has the responsibility to maintain regional stability, but can also play an important role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue.
In the face of the current tense situation, China calls on all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, face up to the crux of the problem, and do more things that are conducive to easing tensions, resuming dialogue and improving relations. Only by ensuring that the situation on the peninsula does not get out of control and that relations do not become polarized can we create hope for peace and stability on the peninsula.
Conclusion: The breakdown of the military agreement between the two Koreas has led to tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and all parties should be calm and restrained, seek to resume dialogue, and avoid the situation getting out of control. As a neighboring country, China will do its utmost to maintain regional stability and promote the peace process on the peninsula.