North Korea And South Korea: Unending Unrest

North Korea‘s army has warned it is ready to re-enter the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas, if defector groups from South Korea continue with their campaign to send propaganda leaflets across the border, media reports said on June 16.

On Saturday, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and a senior official of the ruling Workers’ Party, said she’d ordered the army to prepare for the step. Following which the military now says it is ready to “turn the front line into a fortress and heighten military vigilance”.

In response to the threat, South Korea’s defence ministry responded that they are closely monitoring military moves in the North, by working along with the US.

South Korea also said that the defector groups’ actions increase cross-border tensions, pose risks to residents living near the border and cause environmental damage. The sending of leaflets across the border was also banned under the 2018 agreement.

When did it all began?

On June 9, 2020, North Korea said that it is cutting all hotlines with its ‘enemy’ South Korea. First step towards removing all possible contact with the country. This comes after North Korea warned South Korea of shutting an inter-Korean liaison office and other projects, as a result of South Korea’s inability to stop defectors and activists from sending leaflets, usually sent via balloons land other material into North Korea.

Response of defectors group:

Several defector-led groups send leaflets, together with food, one-dollar bills, mini radios and USB sticks containing South Korean dramas and news, over the border and have said they will continue with their planned campaign this week despite the North Korean threats and South Korea saying it will take legal action.

History of Unrest:

The North and South Korea had come together as one country in the seventh century under the Silla dynasty. They remained one up to the year 1945. Despite being similar in many ways and staying together for an extended period, the country got split in two.

Timeline of events

Peace Treaty on Korean peninsula (2018)

North Korea and South Korea continue to be the worst of enemies, with one or the other issue rising every now and then. Despite the disputes arising on a ‘regular’ basis. The Peace Treaty on the Korean Peninsula is a proposed settlement to end the never-ending fight on the Korean Peninsula officially. Kim Jong-un (North Korea), Moon Jae-in (South Korea), Donald Trump (USA) and Xi Jinping (China) signed this Treaty in 2018. The main aim of this Treaty was to end the Korean War and restore friendly relations between the two governments.

Economies today

  1. North Korea’s economy is tightly controlled and closely held. It is generally unable to meet the needs of its people;
  2. South Korea has constant progress, showing growth and increase in its production.

Tensions continue between the two; however, South Korea had tried to improve its political relations with North Korea in the past. Nonetheless, the defectors actions have caused both the nation to begin another series of turmoil.

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in urged Pyongyang on June 15 to keep peace agreements entered by the two leaders and return to dialogue.

Uncertainty lingers as the defectors group refuse to comply with the rules with South Korea unable to stop them. One can only hope that the citizens will be safe, and the entire world will not become a victim of its new war’s outbreak.

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