South Korea consults US on partial North Korea military pact revival

South Korea’s Ministry of Defence said February 19 it aims to restore the no-fly zone under the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement while maintaining the armed forces’ readiness and is consulting with the United States on a partial revival of the accord.

The day before, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young announced plans to ‘preemptively’ reinstate the agreement, originally signed in September 2018 under former President Moon Jae-in, to lower the risk of accidental border clashes, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said various measures are under discussion, including reestablishing the no-fly zone. She added that the military will develop additional steps to maintain effective surveillance and combat readiness.

“The defence ministry is in discussions with relevant ministries and the U.S. to review partially restoring the (military) pact, including designating a no-fly zone,” she said.

President Lee Jae Myung’s administration seeks to reinstate the pact, which was fully suspended in June 2024 under former President Yoon Suk Yeol, following North Korea’s launches of unmanned balloons and a military reconnaissance satellite in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

By Jeyhun Aghazada