By Choi Ha-young
Security-related ministries will operate their own round-the-clock contingency teams during the Chuseok holiday to deal with any possible provocations by North Korea, officials said Sunday.
There are signs that Pyongyang may carry out yet another missile or nuclear test this month, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Workers’ Party foundation, Oct. 10.
While U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are continuing their “war of words,” Washington, Moscow and Pyongyang are reportedly moving toward behind the scenes dialogue.
In response to the diplomatic dynamics, officials at Cheong Wa Dae’s National Security Office (NSO) will be on duty in rotation. “The presidential office has established a system to immediately respond to urgent situations,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said. “Particularly, the crisis management center under the NSO will operate 24 hours a day as usual.”
Officials at the Ministry of National Defense are on duty as well. “As always, the defense ministry keeps our eye on North Korea despite the holiday,” an official said. In the case of any kind of provocation, Defense Minister Song Young-moo is supposed to be briefed within minutes at a place within Seoul.
During holidays, high-ranking military officials including Song and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jeong Kyeong-doo are scheduled to visit military camps to reaffirm military readiness and boost soldiers’ morale.
In the case of surprise provocations by the North, the military has bolstered its strength, according to local broadcaster MBC. Recently, the Air Force newly deployed two American reconnaissance aircraft named Baekdu, which are capable of detecting pre-launch signs of an enemy missile launch.
The Army has secretly deployed 10 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The American military vehicles, which were used during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are now operational in South Korea for the first time, MBC reported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also running an emergency communication network. “Centering on Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs under the ministry, the ministry is operating round-the-clock,” an official said.
The Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-gyon is also on alert waiting for a possible response from Pyongyang to President Moon jae-in’s recent offer for dialogue. On Wednesday, the President called for North Korea to halt its military provocations, saying the two Koreas “must not delay family reunion any longer.”
The unification ministry said Friday that Minister Cho will console the divided families, Monday. On Wednesday, he will visit Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, near the border, along with 1,000 divided family members.
“Other than participating in the events, the minister will be on constant call,” an official from the ministry said. “Each department will be on duty with minimum staffing.”