President Lee Jae-myung visited Horyuji Temple, a representative cultural heritage site in Nara Prefecture, Japan, on March 14, the second day of his visit to Japan, accompanied by Sanae Takaichi, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. [Photo=Yonhap News]
On March 14, in Osaka, Japan, National Security Advisor (NSA) Wi Sung-rak, who accompanied President Lee Jae-myung on his visit to Japan, stated at a briefing held at the press center that the government is "reviewing the restoration of the Sept. 19 military agreement and is in the process of necessary discussions" when asked if the government was considering preemptively restoring the agreement.

This is intended to ease the heightened tensions between South and North Korea, particularly following recent North Korean incursions by drones, and he further explained that it is in line with "the current administration's consistent policy direction and the President's directive." Wi added, "We are currently conducting necessary internal discussions and reviews," but cautiously stated, "It may take time for internal opinions to be coordinated, and we will proceed in stages, monitoring North Korea's reaction within a scope that does not compromise national security."

The 'Sept. 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement' signed by the Moon Jae-in administration... "Abandonment of national security and a disaster"

The "Sept. 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement" is a supplementary agreement in the military domain concluded by the military authorities of South and North Korea on September 19, 2018, during the Moon Jae-in administration, on the occasion of the inter-Korean summit held in Pyongyang. The stated rationale by the Moon Jae-in administration was to ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, prevent accidental armed conflict, and build trust between the South and the North.

This agreement aimed to "completely cease all hostile acts," "demilitarize the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding areas by withdrawing guard posts (GPs) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and demilitarizing the Joint Security Area (JSA) of Panmunjom, turning the DMZ into a zone of peace," "establish a peace zone and a pilot joint fishing zone along the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea," and "activate the Inter-Korean Military Joint Committee and ensure close communication through direct telephone lines (hotlines) and regular meetings between military officials."

Upon the announcement of the agreement at the time, the opposition parties, including the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, immediately issued strong criticisms, calling it "an act of abandoning national security and a disaster." The Liberty Korea Party denounced the Sept. 19 military agreement as a "disarmament agreement" unilaterally favorable to North Korea, arguing that the establishment of a peace zone in the West Sea and no-fly zones would weaken our military's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and undermine our defense posture, posing an "security disaster."

They also pointed out that the establishment of no-fly zones near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) would create security vulnerabilities, preventing our military's drones and other aircraft from properly detecting North Korean frontline weapons such as long-range artillery.

Public opinion also largely focused on skeptical reactions, viewing the agreement as a failed attempt that weakened South Korea's military preparedness unilaterally without curbing North Korea's willingness to provoke, given the lack of substantial progress in denuclearization. The agreement, it was argued, did not deter North Korean provocations while tying the hands of our military.

A pathetic ploy to "appease North Korea," "Will it work?"

The announcement by NSA Wi Sung-rak to "review the restoration of the Sept. 19 military agreement" is being evaluated as a desperate ploy to appease the North Korean regime, including Kim Yo-jong, who has been incessantly engaged in denouncing and criticizing South Korea over the issue of "South Korean-origin drone incursions."

In December 2022, when North Korean drones trespassed over the airspace near the Yongsan Presidential Office (P-73 no-fly zone) during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the then-opposition Democratic Party (now the ruling party) did not criticize North Korea but rather characterized it as a "security disaster" and launched a fierce offensive against the government and the ruling party.

This time, North Korea claimed that it detected and tracked a South Korean-origin drone on January 4 of this year, which crashed near Moksan-ri in Kaepung County and Sasiri in Changpung County, and that it had recovered debris from the area, even mentioning retaliation. In response, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense officially denied that it had operated military drones on the date claimed by North Korea and stated that the model publicly disclosed by North Korea was not theirs. Subsequently, President Lee Jae-myung promptly ordered a "thorough investigation into the possibility of civilian drone incursions," appearing to be in a subservient and watchful position.

This announcement is part of that context, a "ploy" put forth to appease North Korea.

"A dangerous gamble that will lead to security incapacitation"

The opposition parties are strongly opposing NSA Wi Sung-rak's remarks on the "review of the restoration of the Sept. 19 military agreement," calling it "a dangerous gamble that will lead to security incapacitation." The People Power Party, through comments immediately following Wi's announcement, criticized, "In a situation where North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations continue, the act of restoring the military agreement solely by our side is a dangerous gamble that jeopardizes the lives and safety of our citizens."

Security experts also warned that if the Sept. 19 agreement is restored, our military's reconnaissance capabilities against North Korea would be significantly degraded due to measures such as no-fly zones and restrictions on drone surveillance in frontline areas. Given past instances where North Korea repeatedly violated the agreement and carried out provocations, a preemptive restoration without any change in North Korea's attitude could send the wrong signal to Pyongyang.

This measure is ultimately part of the current administration's "subservient North Korea policy" that will create security vacuums by tying the hands of our military, rather than fostering substantive peace on the Korean Peninsula. The opinion of most sensible citizens is that the announcement to review restoration should be immediately withdrawn and that a strong deterrence based on the ROK-US alliance should be prioritized.

By Reporter Park Hye-soo