As North Korea strengthens its stance toward confrontation with South Korea, local government leaders visit South Korean islands near the maritime border to check on stockpiles at evacuation centers and communication methods, and to do their best to ensure safety. I emphasized the idea of doing everything.
In November 2010, four people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed on South Korea's Yongpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea on the western side of the Korean Peninsula, when it was bombarded by North Korean forces across the sea. Did.
Last month, when North Korea changed its policy of viewing South Korea as a hostile state rather than a target for unification, the South Korean military conducted artillery training in response to the North Korean military's repeated shelling near the maritime border. At that time, an evacuation order was issued for the island's residents.
Under these circumstances, Yoo Jeong-bok, mayor of Incheon City, which has jurisdiction over Yongpyong Island, visited the island on the 7th and confirmed the status of evacuation center stockpiles and communication methods, as well as South Korean military units and local government officials. encouraged us.
At a press conference, Mayor Yoo stated that Yongpyong Island and other islands in the Yellow Sea are "the front line of security and the most important strategic point for national defense. Protecting this area means protecting all of Korea." , emphasized the idea of doing our best to ensure safety.
This inspection was also made public to foreign media, and the city of Incheon was able to demonstrate both at home and abroad that it was fully prepared for military provocations by North Korea.
Residents grow anxious on the frontline island
South Korea's Yongpyeong Island, located in the Yellow Sea on the western side of the Korean Peninsula, is one of the front lines, close to the maritime boundary established by the United Nations Forces.
North Korea's islands are dotted within a 10km radius, and from the observation deck on Yongpyong Island, the island where Kim Jong Un visited in 2017 to inspect military units is also several kilometers away. You can check it first.
North Korean islands are equipped with cannons and rockets, and North Korean military facilities can be seen in footage taken by NHK's reporting team from Yongpyong Island late last month.
Also, on another neighboring island, people who appeared to be soldiers of the North Korean army were also seen.
In 2018, North Korea signed a military agreement with South Korea to ease military tensions and established an area in which it would not fire artillery, but since then it has repeatedly ignored the agreement and repeatedly fired artillery into the sea.
When North Korea shelled the Yellow Sea for three consecutive days until the 7th of last month, the people of Yongpyong Island became nervous.
On the 5th of last month, the South Korean military conducted artillery training as a countermeasure, and residents on the island were temporarily ordered to evacuate due to concerns about the movements of the North Korean military.
Song Yong-ok (62), who has lived on the island for more than 30 years and runs a guesthouse, was one of the people who headed to the evacuation center after receiving a message on his cell phone in addition to the announcement from the island's office.
Son said, ``I felt uneasy because I remember the North Korean shelling incident in 2010.The North and the South are the same people, so I want to make sure that war never breaks out.''
In addition, a man in his 80s who also evacuated said, ``There are many elderly people, so I'm worried because I won't be able to leave the island right away in the event of an emergency.'' The islanders hope that tensions between the North and South will not escalate. I heard people praying for it.
A clear shift in North Korea's policy toward South Korea
In a speech at the end of December last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced that he would view South Korea as a hostile country rather than a target for unification, and since the start of the year last month, he has begun to change his policy toward South Korea. It's becoming clearer.
When Kim toured a munitions factory, he called South Korea the ``main enemy'' and said, ``While we will not unilaterally carry out major changes using overwhelming force, we have no intention of avoiding war.'' ”, emphasizing a confrontational stance.
In addition, in his speech at the Supreme People's Assembly, he argued that the Constitution should be amended to clearly state that South Korea is the ``number one enemy country,'' and decided to abolish the liaison body with South Korea.
Kim also ordered the removal of the ``Three Charters of National Reunification Monument,'' an arch-shaped monument erected during his father's era in hopes of reunifying the North and South.
Regarding this monument, Professor Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury School of International Studies in the United States revealed on social media the results of an analysis of satellite images taken near the capital Pyongyang on the 23rd of last month.
According to the report, the monument has already been dismantled and cranes and construction vehicles can be seen in the surrounding area.
In addition, North Korea is increasing its restraints on South Korea, including taking measures to shut down all websites and radio stations that aim to send propaganda to South Korea, and the South Korean government is wary of military provocations. .
Expert: ``The change in policy is closely related to North Korea's nuclear strategy.''
Regarding North Korea's policy change toward South Korea, Hong Min, a research fellow at the South Korean government-affiliated think tank Institute for National Unification, said that the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, which was the liaison body with South Korea, ceased to speak in 2019, and since then, He pointed out that it has been a long process since North Korea began calling South Korea an "enemy."
He added, ``If the North cannot use nuclear weapons against the same ethnic group, the North's idea of deterrence becomes meaningless.However, if the logic is that nuclear weapons can be used against hostile nations, then it has been determined that deterrence can be established.'' ``The change in policy toward South Korea is closely related to North Korea's nuclear strategy,'' he said.
He also pointed out that North Korea's series of moves are strongly aimed at sending a message to the United States to make North Korea aware of its own nuclear strategy in anticipation of the US presidential election this November.
In addition, regarding the possibility that North Korea will cause some kind of military conflict in the future, it is difficult to imagine it due to the overwhelming difference in military strength between the US and South Korean armies and its relationship with China and Russia, but It is said that there is a possibility that they will strengthen their development efforts and show off their military power.
Hong also stated, ``In order to curb North Korea's nuclear development, it is necessary to continue to strengthen the security cooperation among Japan, the United States, and South Korea. On the other hand, it is also necessary to create a space in which North Korea can move through dialogue.'' , emphasized the need for pressure and dialogue on both sides.