[Yonhap Photo]
The security team of South Korean President Moon Jae-in warned of a fresh North Korean provocation in October when Pyongyang and Beijing hold key political events.
The warning was contained in a report prepared on Wednesday when Moon invited the leaders of political parties to his office for talks on North Korea and other pending issues, according to briefings made by ruling and opposition parties.
The report mentioned the possibility of provocations when Pyongyang celebrates the anniversary of its communist party foundation on October 10, or when China holds its communist party congress on October 18. Traditionally, North Korea has marked key political events with missile launches and other provocations.
In an unusual move, Moon guided the political leaders into an underground bunker, a sensitive security facility in the presidential Blue House, for a briefing. An array of security issues was covered, such as North Korea's ballistic missiles, American tactical weapons and a diplomatic row between Beijing and Seoul.
The political leaders agreed to issue a joint statement that called for efforts to bolster "deterrence" against North Korea, while Moon opposed the idea of bringing back U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean peninsula. Chung Eui-young, the chief of the National Security Office, was quoted as saying Washington promised to deploy strategic military assets around the Korean Peninsu1la regularly as early as late this year.
At talks in New York last week. Moon and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to expand the rotational deployment of key Americal military assets. In a show of force, U.S. bombers and stealth warplanes have already made flights near the North's territory.
About a diplomatic row with Beijing over a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, Moon said he expects a breakthrough at an early date. "The THAAD issue is reaching its final stage, and I think we will be able to see visible progress in the near future," he was quoted as saying.
The THAAD battery has been a sensitive diplomatic issue among China and other nations around the Korean peninsula. Beijing argues that the missile shield's powerful X-band radar capable of monitoring Chinese troop movements.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
