Yonhap News Agency reported on February 17 that the Ministry of National Defense of South Korea submitted a work report to the plenary session of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on the 17th, introducing the recent national security situation and the main work plan of the South Korean army this year.
The Ministry of National Defense commented on the 8th National Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea that the North Korean side sent a signal to conditionally improve foreign relations.
Specifically, the Eighth National Congress of North Korea pointed out that South Korea’s introduction of weapons and South Korea’s implementation of joint exercises between South Korea and the United States are fundamental problems hindering the development of inter-Korean relations, and hinted that if South Korea solve these problems, South Korea-North Korea relations can be improved.
In response to the United States, the North Korean side has established a policy of “strong to strong, good to good” and asked the United States to withdraw its hostile policy towards North Korea.
Regarding the movement of the North Korean army, the Ministry of National Defense said that the North Korean side has not made any abnormal actions since the abolition of the Fengxili nuclear test site on May 24, 2018.
However, the North Korean army has strengthened the defense posture of the land and sea, and is currently conducting winter military exercises.
North Korea’s missile research and development facilities are also expanding, but the Yongbian 5MW nuclear reactor is in a long-term shutdown.
