NK may seek provocation ahead of G20 Summit
National Assembly begins 20-day inspection of state affairs
By Jung Sung-ki
Latest intelligence reports indicate the possibility of North Korea launching some form of military provocation against South Korea next month to hamper the planned G20 Summit meeting in Seoul, South Korea’s defense chief said Monday.
Such a move could have something to do with the Stalinist country’s efforts to solidify its third-generation father-to-son succession, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said.
Kim made the remarks during a National Assembly inspection of the ministry. The Assembly started its 20-day inspection of government ministries and agencies Monday.
The North appears to be preparing a massive combined exercise of its army, navy and air force ahead of the 65th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party that falls on Oct. 10, he said. The anniversary ceremony would involve a gigantic military parade including 15,000 troops and 200 weapons systems.
“North Korean artillery, troops, fighter jets and naval ships have been preparing to conduct a combined exercise in the waters off Wonsan,” Kim said. “The exercise is expected to be held before the Oct. 10 founding anniversary with the attendance of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.”
The minister also revealed that Pyongyang seems to be taking steps to refurbish its nuclear facility in Yongbyon.
Last week, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security alleged North Korea has resumed construction of a major nuclear reactor after a cooling tower was destroyed in 2008.
The tower was demolished by North Korea in a dramatic display of its commitment to nuclear disarmament. But construction of two buildings adjacent to the demolished cooling tower has been observed through satellite pictures.
On Sept. 28, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il appointed his youngest son, Jong-un, to the rank of four-star general and made him a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party, in an apparent effort to hand over authority.
“Kim Jong-un is expected to start his public activities as a successor,” the minister noted. “There is a possibility that North Korea would resort to provocative activities to overcome internal and external difficulties as well as hamper the G20 meeting in Seoul.”
Rep. Song Young-sun of the minor opposition Future Alliance Hope said there are several scenarios with regard to this.
Song said North Korea could engage in cyber attacks against Seoul’s computer networks, electronic warfare against airport facilities in the South, or fire coastal artillery at South Korean patrol ships near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea.
A North Korean submarine infiltration into the South is also a potential scenario to destroy Seoul’s key facilities and destabilize security on the peninsula ahead of the G20 summit.
‘북한 G20 회의 전 도발 가능성 상존’
군 당국은 북한이 다음달 서울에서 열리는 G20회의를 방해하기 위해서 군사도발을 감행할 가능성이 있다고 판단하고 있는 것으로 알려졌다.
김태영 국방장관은 국방부 청사에서 열린 국정감사에서 이와 같이 말하며 이는 북한의 3대 세습체제 강화하기 위한 목적으로 보인다고 말했다.
김 장관은 북한이 지난 달부터 10월 10일 열리는 북한 노동당 창건 65주년 행사 전에 대규모 육.해.공군 합동 훈련을 준비하고 있는 것으로 안다고 말했다.
김 장관은 “북한의 포병 병력과 전투기 해군 함정들이 원산 기지에서 지난 9월 16일부터 훈련 준비를 하고 있다”며 “훈련은 10월 10일 전에 김정일 국방위원장의 참관한 가운데 시행될 것으로 예상된다”라고 말했다.
그는 또 북한 당국이 영변의 핵시설 재가동 움직임이 있다고 확인했다.
지난 주 워싱턴 소식통들은 북한이 지난 2008년 파괴시킨 영변 냉각타워 근처에 공사를 진행하고 있다고 밝혔다.
김 장관은 “김정은은 후계자로서 공식 행보를 시작할 것으로 보인다”며 “북한 내.외의 어려운 상황을 타개하고 서울에서 열리는 G20회담을 방해할 목적으로 도발할 가능성이 상존한다”고 말했다.