NK Inside

· North Korea Sides with China on Taiwan Issue: “China’s Reunification with Taiwan Is a Just Cause”

· North Korea Again Rejects South Korea’s Findings, Calling Them a “Fabrication”… “Will Respond Immediately to Territorial Violations”

· Kim Jong-un Observes Medium-Range and Hypersonic Missile Launch… “Strengthening Nuclear Deterrence”

Myongsung Kim

North Korea has again rejected the South Korean military’s final findings, which concluded that an explosion in the western sector of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was caused by a landmine planted by the North south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), dismissing the findings as a “fabrication” by South Korea.

Regarding the “mine-clearing operation” announced by the South Korean military, North Korea also threatened to take forceful countermeasures if its “territory” were violated. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 6th that the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement titled “We Will Be More Resolute and Clear in Exercising Our Sovereignty Against the Most Hostile Country.”

The statement came one day after the South Korean military announced its findings on the cause of the DMZ landmine explosion.

The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued, “The so-called ‘landmine explosion incident’ is a sinister act of sabotage intended to portray our fortification of the southern border—a legitimate exercise of sovereignty—as a ‘military incursion’ and to delay and obstruct it,” adding, “It is nothing more than a flimsy attempt by the South Korean military to shift responsibility for this suspicious incident onto us in an effort to evade accountability.”

It further protested, “Attempting to attribute responsibility for this fabricated incident, which South Korea unilaterally manufactured and concluded, to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in an effort to tarnish our international image constitutes a grave provocation that cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” adding that “it is a serious violation of sovereignty for which they will inevitably pay a price.”

It warned, “We categorically reject South Korea’s despicable attempts, and our nation’s legitimate sovereign rights to ensure the security of our southern border will be exercised in an even more resolute and decisive manner.”

Regarding the South Korean military’s announced mine-clearing operation south of the MDL, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “If they wish to remove mines that have nothing to do with us, they may do so; if not, they may refrain—it is none of our concern.” It nevertheless warned, “If even a single military boot or a single spark crosses into our territory by even 1 millimeter, the DPRK’s border forces will immediately take powerful countermeasures.”

It further stated, “We make clear that even if a similar incident occurs again on South Korean territory in the future, responsibility will not lie with us but entirely with the party involved in the incident.” The statement was understood as a warning that North Korea could respond with force if South Korean troops cross into North Korean territory during mine-clearing operations near the MDL. It also reiterated North Korea’s rejection of proposals for inter-Korean military talks and reaffirmed its intention to proceed with border fortification measures as planned.

The ministry declared, “Under no circumstances will we discuss the exercise of military sovereignty within our own territory with an adversarial state,” adding, “We will defend our sovereign territory not through negotiations, but through the resolute exercise of force.” It further stated, “South Korea’s malicious attempts to achieve its ulterior objectives through childish, self-fabricated smear campaigns will never succeed,” and declared, “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s exercise of sovereignty in the context of its relations with the most hostile state will be carried out in the most resolute and unequivocal manner.”

On October 5, the South Korean military reached its final determination that the explosion that occurred on September 21, in the western sector of the DMZ, was caused by a landmine planted by North Korea south of the MDL.

Kim Jong-un Observes Medium-Range and Hypersonic Missile Launch… “Strengthening Nuclear Deterrence”

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un observed a medium-range strategic missile launch drill and reaffirmed the country’s policy of strengthening its nuclear forces, stating that the continuous verification and enhancement of weapons systems constitute “an exercise of deterrence.”

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on October 4 that a medium-range strategic missile launch drill was conducted in the eastern region toward the East Sea in the early morning hours of the previous day. It said the drill was intended to “enhance the combat capabilities of missile units operating hypersonic strategic weapon systems” and constituted “an evaluation of the reliability, effectiveness, and operational readiness of the war deterrent.”

Kim Jong-un observed the exercise together with Kim Jong-sik, First Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party’s Munitions Industry Department, and Jang Chang-ha, Director of the General Missile Bureau. According to photographs released by North Korean state media, Kim’s daughter, Ju-ae, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, also attended the exercise.

At the site, Kim stated, “Building a powerful and reliable nuclear deterrent and demonstrating that our military’s counterstrike capabilities remain in a constant state of readiness are critically important measures and responsible actions for safeguarding national security.”

Kim commended the missile unit commanders and personnel, saying, “The strategic missile forces have fully demonstrated their high level of proficiency in operating critical offensive weapons systems and their readiness to conduct a counterstrike at any time,” adding that they “have instilled confidence in our deterrent.”

He emphasized, “We must continuously and without interruption make responsible efforts to ensure that our adversaries remain fully aware of the reliability and lethality of our strategic offensive capabilities,” adding, “This constitutes an exercise of deterrence.”

He continued, “Our activities are clearly aimed at further strengthening the nation’s nuclear deterrence. This is essential to safeguarding the nation’s security and stability in today’s geopolitical environment,” thereby portraying weapons-system verification exercises, including missile launches, as defensive in nature.

He further reaffirmed that the country would not abandon its policy of strengthening its nuclear forces, stating, “There can be no change in our position or policy,” and adding, “We must deter various threats through a powerful deterrent and create a safer environment for our national development and activities.”

The news agency claimed that the missile was launched in a northeasterly direction and “struck the designated target point at 43°36′28.04″ north latitude and 138°00′47.02″ east longitude, 1,000 kilometers away in the East Sea.”

North Korean media also released photographs showing the missile ascending into the sky amid flames. The missile bore the national flag and the number “17701922.”

The photographs also showed Kim and his daughter, Ju-ae, from behind as they observed the launch, as well as Kim’s family members and senior military officials smiling. A monitor displaying the missile’s flight trajectory was also visible behind Ju-ae.

The red trajectory displayed on the monitor appears to depict a hypersonic missile rather than a conventional ballistic missile, featuring a “pull-up” maneuver in which the missile climbs again during the terminal phase of its flight before gliding for a certain distance.

The propulsion system and launch platform appear similar to those associated with the “Hwasong-16N” hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), which is designed to perform unpredictable maneuvers. The system is believed to have been configured with a conical hypersonic warhead mounted on the Hwasong-16N’s solid-fuel propulsion system.

In January 2022, North Korea claimed to have successfully developed a new type of missile that would be more difficult to detect and intercept than conventional ballistic missiles, following two test launches of a ballistic missile equipped with a conical warhead conducted six days apart.

Previously, Kim Yo-jong, Director of the General Affairs Department of the Workers’ Party, disclosed the missile launch exercise on the day it was conducted and claimed that South Korean and Japanese military authorities had failed to track the missile because of its technological superiority.