North Korea fully suspends defence pact with South as fallout from spy satellite launch escalates
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy North Korea has withdrawn from a historic defence pact aimed at reducing military tensions at its border with South Korea, escalating a row over its spy satellite launch. “From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement,” said North Korea’s defence ministry in a statement. open image in gallery North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the launch of a rocket carrying the reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyong-1' from the Sohae Satellite Launch Site in North Phyongan province on 22 November It said South Korea will be held “accountable” in case of an irretrievable clash along the Military Demarcation Line, the heavily armed border between the two. open image in gallery launch of a new-type carrier rocket ‘Chollima-1’ carrying the reconnaissance satellite ‘Malligyong-1’ at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province, North Korea, 21 November 2023 In retaliation, South Korea suspended a part of the 2018 inter-Korean deal and resumed surveillance activities by deploying crewed and uncrewed reconnaissance aircraft in the border area on Wednesday, Yonhap news agency reported.