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South Korean authorities approve partial suspension of military agreement with North Korea

According to the statement, Seoul's ability to detect dangerous targets and its combat readiness will be greatly improved

SEOUL, November 22. /TASS/. The South Korean government has held an emergency meeting where it agreed to partially suspend the September 19, 2018 agreement with North Korea on reducing tensions in the military sphere, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The government meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck Soo. The decision will take effect after President Yoon Suk Yeol approves it.

"North Korea is clearly demonstrating that it will not abide by the agreement to reduce military tensions and build trust. Our military's ability to detect dangerous targets and its combat readiness will be greatly improved," the prime minister said.

On November 21, North Korea made its third attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite, which was successful, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The satellite went into orbit.

National Security Council Meeting

Earlier, the South Korean National Security Council held a meeting chaired by the president, who is on a visit to the UK. Meeting participants agreed to suspend some provisions of the document, particularly Article 1, paragraph 3, which deals with no-fly zones. The National Security Council said in a statement that South Korea would "resume intelligence activities against North Korea around the Military Demarcation Line that were conducted in the past." The agency also emphasized that the measure was in line with the Inter-Korean Relations Act.

The president said that regardless of the outcome, the satellite launch is aimed at strengthening North Korea’s intelligence capabilities against South Korea and improving the performance of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Whether the other provisions remain in force depends on Pyongyang's actions, the South Korean authorities added. South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won Sik said earlier that North Korea had violated the de-escalation agreement thousands of times.

The agreement calls for buffer zones where flights, drills and artillery fire are banned. Shin Won Sik has on several occasions spoken publicly about his intention to seek the suspension of the agreement. He said that it limited the ability of South Korean intelligence on the border to detect preparations for a surprise attack like that of the radical Hamas movement. The agreement was signed under the previous South Korean president, Moon Jae In, who was keen on dialogue with Pyongyang.