Efforts to engage in dialogue on the part of South Korea is going unnoticed by the North.
Making matters worse, there are clear signs the regime's geared up to carry out another
provocation to mark a special anniversary this week.
Kwon Jang-ho shares with us the updates from the defense ministry.
Speculation is increasing that North Korea is preparing a ballistic missile test on Thursday,
the anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement.
Both Reuters and AFP have quoted unnamed U.S. Defense officials on Tuesday, saying there
are signs and movement that Pyongyang is gearing up for a test, most likely of an intermediate-range
missile or an ICBM similar to the one launched earlier this month.
The officials also said that if it does happen, it is expected to fall on the anniversary.
CNN has been filing similar reports since last week, and South Korea's Yonhap News on
Tuesday also quoted anonymous South Korean government sources, saying movement of a mobile
missile launcher had been detected in North Pyongan province, and that a launch could
be imminent.
An extended excursion by a North Korean submarine in the East Sea has also led to speculation
that the regime may be preparing a test of a submarine launched ballistic missile.
July 27th is the anniversary of the Armistice Agreement, which effectively ended the Korean
War.
The agreement, which is still in effect today, is technically only a ceasefire and not a
peace treaty, but it is celebrated as Victory Day in North Korea, and is a national holiday.
It's also the date on which South Korean President Moon Jae-in suggested ending current hostilities
on the inter-Korean border during his Berlin address earlier this month.
The South Korean government proposed talks with Pyongyang last week to discuss this,
but so far there has been no response, and if a missile provocation is carried out on
this date, it could be seen as a rejection of this offer.
"Seoul has said they will continue to work closely with the U.S. and remain on close
watch for any missile activity from North Korea.
Kwon Jang-Ho, Arirang News."
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