The situation on the Korean Peninsula has changed suddenly! The South Korean side tore up the Panmunjom agreement, and the DPRK increased its troops on the 38th parallel, and the Chinese side has expressed its position!
On 20 November, the DPRK once again caused a sensation in the international political arena when its State Administration of Aerospace Technology announced that it had successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite named "Wanli Jing-1" and claimed that the satellite had successfully entered the predetermined orbit. The satellite is equipped with infrared cameras and multispectral cameras, which North Korean officials say will be used for meteorological observations and forestry surveys. However, the United States and other Western countries are skeptical, believing that it is actually a satellite used for espionage.
North Korea's action has attracted widespread attention in the international community. North Korea insists that it is its legitimate right as a sovereign state to launch satellites, which it claims will greatly enhance its defense science and technology capabilities. But the move has also sparked widespread concern in the international community, with many arguing that North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology to launch satellites represents significant progress in its intercontinental ballistic missile technology. In response, the United States, Japan and South Korea all strongly condemned the North Korean launch, saying it violated the United Nations ban on North Korea.
It is worth mentioning that Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of the DPRK, personally attended the launch of the satellite and made the first image of the US military base taken by the satellite during his inspection of the State Space Engineering Administration of the DPRK. Kim Jong-un stressed that North Korea needs more satellites to defend itself, and said it was essential to monitor U.S. and South Korean military activities. This statement undoubtedly exacerbated concerns about the possible launch of a "spy satellite" by North Korea.
After North Korea announced the successful launch of the "Wanli Jing-1" satellite, South Korea, as a direct neighbor of North Korea, showed a particularly strong reaction to the incident. South Korean Defense Minister Seo Tae-geun has publicly stated that the North Korean action is a serious threat to South Korea's *** and described it as a blatant provocation.
In response, South Korea announced on November 22 that it was suspending some of its border military agreements with North Korea that were meant to reduce the risk of a military standoff on the two countries' borders. The move symbolizes a further deterioration in inter-Korean relations. At the same time, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier battle group arrived in South Korea for a visit, and the United States, Japan, and South Korea plan to launch a four-day joint naval exercise in the waters south of the Korean Peninsula.
A spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Defense stressed that the visit of the US aircraft carrier and the upcoming joint military exercises show the firm stance of the South Korea-US alliance in the face of the North Korean threat. But Russia has criticized this, arguing that the military exercises under the current conditions are a "sick reaction" that could lead to a further escalation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, the spokesperson of China also called on all parties to exercise restraint.
This series of military and political statements highlights the rise in tensions in the region, as well as the differences in strategies and positions of different countries in dealing with North Korea.
In the face of tough responses from South Korea, the United States and Japan, North Korea quickly and decisively fought back. On November 24, North Korea officially announced that it would fully resume all military operations suspended in the military agreement with South Korea. This decision is seen as a direct response to South Korea's unilateral suspension of part of the military agreement.
North Korea's move means that it will strengthen its military deployment near the demilitarized zone on the border between the two Koreas, including increasing its military presence and equipment. The change has raised international fears that tensions may return to tension in the 38th parallel. Against this backdrop, China reiterates its position and hopes that all parties concerned will exercise restraint and warns that China will not sit idly by once the flames of war spread to the Korean Peninsula.
The current situation on the Korean Peninsula will largely depend on the follow-up actions of South Korea and the allies of the United States and Japan. Although it is also necessary for the DPRK to exercise restraint and refrain from further provocative measures, it is still an open question whether the ROK, the United States, and Japan will adjust their policies toward the DPRK and promote reconciliation between the two sides. Whether or not there is a possibility of war on the Korean Peninsula in the future will depend on the policy choices of these countries and the joint efforts of the international community.