Kim Jong Un’s War Drums: Expert Predicts Yellow Sea Battlefield

Researcher Carlin: “Kim Jong Un Engaged in War Preparations”
Predicts Military Conflict in the Yellow Sea
Official Position of Our Ministry of Defense?

Over 70 years have elapsed since the armistice of the Korean War. An assertion has been made by an expert from the United States suggesting that North Korea, a divided nation where the outbreak of war would not be surprising, is currently dedicating its efforts to war preparedness.

During a webinar hosted by the Stimson Center on the 27th, Robert Carlin, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, contended, “The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, is focusing on preparations for war, and there exists a potential for military conflict in the Yellow Sea.”

This assertion stems from Kim Jong Un’s remarks regarding establishing a northern border line for Yeonpyeong Island and Baengnyeong Island.

In the Supreme People’s Assembly held last January, Kim emphasized, “As long as the southern border line is delineated, no borderline, including the unlawful and lawless Northern Limit Line, can be tolerated. If the Republic of Korea encroaches upon our territory, airspace, and territorial waters by 0.001mm, it constitutes an act of war.”

At the time, the Ministry of Defense responded to this statement by affirming, “The Northern Limit Line represents the practical maritime boundary safeguarded by our troops with significant sacrifices. Our military’s steadfast position is to defend and safeguard the Northern Limit Line under any circumstances.”

Researcher Carlin cautioned, “Kim Jong Un specifically referenced the Yellow Sea and suggested that this matter be deliberated upon in the subsequent meeting and enshrined in the constitution. Following the January meeting, typically, a meeting is convened in September or October. This implies that we have a grace period of 3-4 months, during which the situation could escalate.”

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He also highlighted Kim Jong Un’s recent participation in military exercises.

Carlin stated, “In January, Kim Jong Un observed a missile launch in the East Sea but convened military officials from the Yellow Sea. I believe that Kim Jong Un continues to concentrate on war preparedness, and conflict in the Yellow Sea is possible.”

The mentioned missile launch in the East Sea refers to the ground-to-sea missile test conducted last February. During this test, Kim Jong Un supervised the inspection shooting test of the new ground-to-sea missile ‘Pandion haliaetus-6’ slated for deployment by the Navy.

In actuality, North Korea persists in its provocations. This year alone, North Korea has conducted two ballistic missile launches and five cruise missile launches.

Kim Jong Un also devoted most of March to the People’s Army and military training.

Recently, he inspected the Seoul Ryu Kyung Soo 105th Tank Division, renowned as the elite unit that first entered Seoul during the Korean War. He also directly oversaw the firing training of the Western District Artillery Unit.

It is also surmised that North Korea is intensifying efforts in nuclear weapons development and production, which had momentarily stagnated. Movement indicating the reactor’s operation and light water reactor was observed as cooling water was discharged from the pump station connected to the experimental light water reactor within North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear facility.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Defense has issued a heightened warning message directed at North Korea.

On the 26th, commemorating the 14th anniversary of the sinking of the Cheonan ship, Defense Minister Shin Won Sik paid a visit to the Cheonan 46 Heroes Memorial Tower on Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, followed by a visit to the 6th Marine Corps Division.

During this visit, Shin was reported to Have remarked, “Recently, Kim Jong Un has been overseeing the training of airborne units, artillery units, tank units, etc., heightening the threat against the Republic of Korea.”

He is said to have instructed, “In the event of provocation by the enemy, integrate and operate ground, sea, and air joint forces according to the principle of immediate, strong, and thorough retaliation, aiming to completely eradicate the origin of provocation and the command and support forces.”