Questions rise as to whether Pyongyang's Feb. 8th military parade violates Olymics Truce Resolution
- 6 years ago
North Korea is preparing for its military parade, complete with hundreds of citizens, soldiers, vehicles and weapons.
The question is... does the regime's decision to hold an armed forces event on the eve of the Winter Games... violate the Olympics Truce Resolution for PyeongChang 2018.
Oh Jung-hee takes a closer look.
North Korea's preparations for its military parade on February 8th are in full swing.
According to Voice of America,... satellite images taken on Sunday show... Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square filled with people in red and yellow.
South Korean government sources also say... roughly 50-thousand people are prepping for the parade at the North's Mirim Airfield.
The February 8th parade comes after Pyongyang declared the completion of its weapons program... in the year the regime celebrates the 70th anniversary of its establishment.
Experts say,... to add meaning to the event, Pyongyang could showcase its yet to be unveiled Hwasong-13 ICBM or Pukguksong-3 SLBM.
"North Korea will definitely showcase its Hwasong 12, 14 and 15 missiles. And there's also a high possibility it will show other missiles... whose exterior won't be revealed,... but this will raise curiosity over what they are."
Showcasing ICBMs and conventional weapons on the eve of the Olympics.
Should this be seen as an act of provocation or even as a violation of the Olympics Truce Resolution?
The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly last November aims to halt hostilities throughout the Olympics and Paralympics period.
South Korea's military is ambiguous on its stance.
"The military will continuously monitor North Korea's movements and keep a full-fledged military readiness posture in preparation for any possibilities."
Experts say... the North's parade isn't a direct violation of the Olympics Truce Resolution.
But it does leave room for a downturn in peaceful atmosphere on the Korean peninsula.
"The military parade is for Pyongyang's political propaganda, so I don't think it directly goes against the truce resolution which emphasizes physical hostilities. But, the North still aims to show off its nuclear power which does violate the Olympics spirit of pursuing peace."
"The parade is neither a provocation, nor a violation against an international agreement. But it's widely seen as the regime's central stage for showing off its weapons. The key for South Korea will be to read through Pyongyang's intentions... and ensure maximum security throughout the Games. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News."
The question is... does the regime's decision to hold an armed forces event on the eve of the Winter Games... violate the Olympics Truce Resolution for PyeongChang 2018.
Oh Jung-hee takes a closer look.
North Korea's preparations for its military parade on February 8th are in full swing.
According to Voice of America,... satellite images taken on Sunday show... Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square filled with people in red and yellow.
South Korean government sources also say... roughly 50-thousand people are prepping for the parade at the North's Mirim Airfield.
The February 8th parade comes after Pyongyang declared the completion of its weapons program... in the year the regime celebrates the 70th anniversary of its establishment.
Experts say,... to add meaning to the event, Pyongyang could showcase its yet to be unveiled Hwasong-13 ICBM or Pukguksong-3 SLBM.
"North Korea will definitely showcase its Hwasong 12, 14 and 15 missiles. And there's also a high possibility it will show other missiles... whose exterior won't be revealed,... but this will raise curiosity over what they are."
Showcasing ICBMs and conventional weapons on the eve of the Olympics.
Should this be seen as an act of provocation or even as a violation of the Olympics Truce Resolution?
The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly last November aims to halt hostilities throughout the Olympics and Paralympics period.
South Korea's military is ambiguous on its stance.
"The military will continuously monitor North Korea's movements and keep a full-fledged military readiness posture in preparation for any possibilities."
Experts say... the North's parade isn't a direct violation of the Olympics Truce Resolution.
But it does leave room for a downturn in peaceful atmosphere on the Korean peninsula.
"The military parade is for Pyongyang's political propaganda, so I don't think it directly goes against the truce resolution which emphasizes physical hostilities. But, the North still aims to show off its nuclear power which does violate the Olympics spirit of pursuing peace."
"The parade is neither a provocation, nor a violation against an international agreement. But it's widely seen as the regime's central stage for showing off its weapons. The key for South Korea will be to read through Pyongyang's intentions... and ensure maximum security throughout the Games. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News."