DPRK abolishes departments dealing with inter-Korean cooperation
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The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the DPRK decided to dismantle its agencies responsible for managing inter-Korean affairs.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a year-end plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, which was held between Dec. 26, and Dec. 30, 2023, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP)
On Tuesday, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) state-run news agency KCNA reported that the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea has chosen to abolish government entities responsible for handling inter-Korean affairs.
"The reunification of Korea can never be achieved with the Republic of Korea … Recognizing the stark historical reality and branding the ROK as the state most hostile to the DPRK, the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK decided as follows … The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, the National Economic Cooperation Bureau, and the Kumgangsan International Tourism Administration, tools which existed for north-south dialogue, negotiations, and cooperation, are abolished," the Supreme People's Assembly said in a statement, as quoted by the news agency.
According to the KCNA news agency, Kim Jong Un stated on Monday that the DPRK is not eager to initiate a war but will not shy away from it either. He emphasized that any violation, even by 0.001 mm, of their territorial land, air, and waters by South Korea would be regarded as a provocative act of war.
This comes after the DPRK leader affirmed that Pyongyang intends to "annihilate" South Korea should its army violate the DPRK's sovereignty.
"If the ROK dares attempt to use armed forces against the DPRK or threaten its sovereignty and security and such opportunity comes, we will have no hesitation in annihilating the ROK by mobilizing all means and forces in our hands," Kim said.
Last November, in a significant development, the DPRK's defense ministry announced through the state's official news agency that it officially withdrew from the 2018 inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA). The withdrawal signified a departure from the military confidence-building measures aimed at de-escalating tensions between the DPRK and South Korea.
The decision came just a day after South Korea suspended a portion of the CMA in response to the DPRK's launch of a satellite.
