North Korea, Nov 27: In a recent development, North Korea has escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula by sending troops to its southern border to rebuild guard posts that were dismantled as part of a 2018 agreement with South Korea. The move comes in the wake of Pyongyang’s launch of a spy satellite, which prompted Seoul to partially suspend the agreement aimed at easing border tensions.

Last week, South Korea took measures in response to the satellite launch, leading to the suspension of parts of the 2018 agreement. In retaliation, North Korea decided to scrap the pact entirely, declaring that it would “never be bound” by the deal again.

According to reports, North Korean soldiers have been observed rebuilding the guard posts since Friday, and it is anticipated that all 11 posts withdrawn under the five-year-old military accord will be restored. South Korea’s military released a photo showing North Korean soldiers reconstructing a wooden guard post in the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two countries.

The heightened military activity follows North Korea’s successful launch of the “Malligyong-1” spy satellite, marking its third attempt after two failures earlier in the year. Analysts suggest that placing a spy satellite into orbit enhances North Korea’s intelligence-gathering capabilities, particularly over South Korea, providing crucial data in potential military conflicts.

In response to the rising tensions, South Korea has deployed “surveillance and reconnaissance assets” to the border, citing it as an “essential measure” to defend against North Korea’s growing threats. In return, Pyongyang has announced its intention to “deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware” along the Military Demarcation Line between the two Koreas.

As both sides engage in military posturing, the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation and the implications for regional stability.