Park warns of 'serious cracks' in N. Korea regime

By Yi Whan-woo

President Park Geun-hye

President Park Geun-hye said Monday that North Korea has begun to show signs of "serious cracks" within its regime, citing a series of defections by members of the North Korean elite recently.

Park warned that Pyongyang could launch terrorist attacks or resort to military provocations against Seoul as the prospect of political upheaval looms large there because leader Kim Jong-un will try to keep his grip on power.

"There are growing possibilities over all sorts of terrorist attacks and provocations targeting us, including cyber terrorism, as North Korea tries to battle internal upheaval, to prevent any further defections, and to stir up chaos in our society," she said during a National Security Council meeting at Cheong Wa Dae.

Park convened the meeting as South Korea and the United States began Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG), a joint military exercise held every year on the peninsula. It will run through Sept. 2

The meeting also took place after Thae Yong-ho, North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, defected to South Korea with his family in late July.

Thae was one of the high-profile figures who have deserted the dictatorial regime in recent years.

The young despot reportedly responded angrily and ordered attacks against South Koreans abroad.

"We can't lower our guard even for a moment considering key North Korean officials have been fleeing their country and that their regime is going to extreme measures," Park said. "We must be fully aware of the nature of the emergency, and I ask all Cabinet members to take stern measures against any action that can create rifts and conflict within our society."

The President especially called for a robust readiness posture as the UFG is underway, citing Pyongyang's threats to launch preemptive nuclear attacks, Monday. Pyongyang has protested that the Seoul-Washington exercise is a rehearsal for the invasion of the North.

North Korea also confirmed last week that it has begun resumption of nuclear fuel reprocessing for plutonium production, triggering concerns over a fifth nuclear test.

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"There is a higher possibility of more North Korean provocations than ever and its nuclear weapons and missiles can pose a direct and tangible threat to our people's lives and national security," Park said. "In that regard, our government and military should work with the United States closely to punish Pyongyang. Also, we should conduct our military drill as if we are in an actual war."

She criticized North Korea as well for trying to exploit planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea "as an excuse for further provocations."

"Our decision to deploy THAAD was to protect us as North Korea has not been giving up its nuclear ambitions and continues with provocations," she said. "But Pyongyang has been distorting the truth and we should not be swayed by its intention to deepen internal conflict and chaos over THAAD."

Some analysts speculate that Park brought up the issue of political unrest in the North in line with her speech on Aug. 15, in which she urged ordinary citizens and officials there to join Seoul's inter-Korean unification efforts. This fueled speculation that she is trying to separate Pyongyang's ruling class from the rest of the North Korean people as a way to make a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations.

Concerning her scheduled trip to China, Russia, and Laos from Sept. 2 to 9, Park said it will offer an opportunity for South Korea to "to form a favorable environment and overcome hardship concerning economic and security-related issues."

While China has remained lukewarm about North Korea's provocations, it has taken some retaliatory moves against South Korea in protest of the THAAD system, putting bilateral relations at risk.

Russia also joined the protest, claiming THAAD can be used to spy on its military activities.

It remains to be seen whether Park will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China from Sept. 4 to 5.

Park is set to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during her trip to Vladivostok from Sept. 2 to 3. She will attend the Eastern Economic Forum there.

In Laos, she will participate in ASEAN-led summits before returning home Sept. 9

"The diplomatic circumstances we face are challenging," she said. "But we can't simply sit and do nothing. We must actively engage in diplomacy and create our own future."

Meanwhile, she did not mention Woo Byung-woo, her senior civil affairs secretary who faces multiple corruption allegations. Cheong Wa Dae has been under mounting criticism for keeping him in his position.

Since taking office in February 2013, Park has convened an NSC session for four straight years on the occasion of the UFG.