ID :
202141
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 13:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/202141
The shortlink copeid
Defense minister says report about assassins 'not true'
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Thursday a recent report claiming that North Korean assassins were targeting him was "not true."
In a parliamentary defense committee meeting, Kim called the report "speculative."
Last week, a newspaper report said Seoul acquired intelligence that North Korea was after Kim, who is known for his hard-line stance against Pyongyang. It said the military and intelligence officials were trying to determine the number of would-be assassins, and whether they were North Korean agents sent by Pyongyang or foreign nationals who entered the South from a third country under a North Korean order.
But on Thursday, Kim said it was also not true that intelligence officials were trying to identify agents.
"A defense minister is a key official to be protected even in peace time," Kim told the committee.
He acknowledged that security around him was ratcheted up about two months ago, after North Korea denounced the South Korean military for using images of its leader Kim Jong-il and his heir apparent Kim Jong-un as shooting targets in some units.
He also addressed questions about the South's delayed response to the North's firing of shells last week near the Northern Limit Line (NLL). Last Wednesday, the South launched warnings shots about an hour after the North fired toward the Yellow Sea border.
At the time, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) explained that since there was no immediate damage, the South's Navy took its time to assess the situation and directed warning shots toward the NLL.
On Thursday, Kim said he plans to "modify areas of operational responsibility" in the Yellow Sea.
Currently, in peace time or in case of low intensity provocation by North Korea, the Northwest Islands Defense Command, operated by the Marine Corps, is in charge of defense of waters within a 2 kilometer-radius of those islands, backed up by the 2nd Navy Fleet.
But outside that range, the 2nd Navy Fleet is in charge, with the defense command providing the support. This setup has created confusion as to the command structure in the volatile waters, critics have said this week.
North Korea later argued that South Korea mistook a blasting noise from construction work for artillery fire, a claim Seoul flatly denied. Kim said this was "a new form of a provocation disguised as shooting drills."
Kim also talked about the dispute over the construction of a naval base on the southern island of Jeju. Opponents of the construction have held protests at the construction site, citing environmental concerns, while the defense ministry said the base is necessary for security and strategic reasons.
"We have filed for a court injunction to halt disruptions to the construction, and the ruling is expected at the end of August," Kim said. "Once the ruling is issued, then we will take action (to force out protesters)."
In a parliamentary defense committee meeting, Kim called the report "speculative."
Last week, a newspaper report said Seoul acquired intelligence that North Korea was after Kim, who is known for his hard-line stance against Pyongyang. It said the military and intelligence officials were trying to determine the number of would-be assassins, and whether they were North Korean agents sent by Pyongyang or foreign nationals who entered the South from a third country under a North Korean order.
But on Thursday, Kim said it was also not true that intelligence officials were trying to identify agents.
"A defense minister is a key official to be protected even in peace time," Kim told the committee.
He acknowledged that security around him was ratcheted up about two months ago, after North Korea denounced the South Korean military for using images of its leader Kim Jong-il and his heir apparent Kim Jong-un as shooting targets in some units.
He also addressed questions about the South's delayed response to the North's firing of shells last week near the Northern Limit Line (NLL). Last Wednesday, the South launched warnings shots about an hour after the North fired toward the Yellow Sea border.
At the time, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) explained that since there was no immediate damage, the South's Navy took its time to assess the situation and directed warning shots toward the NLL.
On Thursday, Kim said he plans to "modify areas of operational responsibility" in the Yellow Sea.
Currently, in peace time or in case of low intensity provocation by North Korea, the Northwest Islands Defense Command, operated by the Marine Corps, is in charge of defense of waters within a 2 kilometer-radius of those islands, backed up by the 2nd Navy Fleet.
But outside that range, the 2nd Navy Fleet is in charge, with the defense command providing the support. This setup has created confusion as to the command structure in the volatile waters, critics have said this week.
North Korea later argued that South Korea mistook a blasting noise from construction work for artillery fire, a claim Seoul flatly denied. Kim said this was "a new form of a provocation disguised as shooting drills."
Kim also talked about the dispute over the construction of a naval base on the southern island of Jeju. Opponents of the construction have held protests at the construction site, citing environmental concerns, while the defense ministry said the base is necessary for security and strategic reasons.
"We have filed for a court injunction to halt disruptions to the construction, and the ruling is expected at the end of August," Kim said. "Once the ruling is issued, then we will take action (to force out protesters)."
