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| ▲ Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung (L) speaks during his visit to the Army's Ground Operations Command on Feb. 5, 2026, in this photo provided by the JCS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
JCS chief-inspection
Top military commander urges firm readiness posture near border area
SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday that North Korea could increase activities near the border in the spring, urging front-line troops to maintain a firm readiness posture against potential provocations by the North.
JCS Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung made the remarks during his visit to the Army's Ground Operations Command to discuss response measures with major commanders on North Korea's activities near the military demarcation line (MDL) separating the two Koreas.
During the visit, Jin warned that North Korea could step up activities along the border in the spring, raising the risk of provocations, including possible crossings of the MDL.
"The military must maintain a firm readiness posture in border areas and respond sternly in accordance with principles and guidelines should the enemy cross the MDL or stage provocations," Jin was quoted as saying.
At a year-end party meeting in December 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared inter-Korean relations to be those of "two states hostile to each other" and has since pursued a hard-line policy toward Seoul.
Last year, North Korea installed triple layers of barbed wire and barriers along the MDL, and has cut roads and rail links connecting the two Koreas.
North Korean soldiers were reported to have crossed the MDL during construction and fortification activities, though such movements largely ceased during the winter.
Jin also called for the deployment of advanced surveillance systems combining manned and unmanned assets, as well as artificial intelligence, to strengthen monitoring and detection capabilities along the border.
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