Nuke test, missile launch by North Korea may lead to loudspeaker broadcasts

A nuclear test or a test-launch of long-range missiles by North Korea would constitute an "abnormal situation," in which South Korea would be compelled to resume its loudspeaker broadcasts against the North under a recent inter-Korean deal, Yonhap quoted the country's chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as saying Friday.

"North Korea's nuclear test and long-range missile launch should be deemed as an abnormal situation," JCS Chairman Choi Yoon-hee said in a parliamentary audit, indicating that Seoul will resume its propaganda broadcasts under such a situation.

As South and North Korea struck a breakthrough deal to defuse sharply escalated military tensions last month, Seoul agreed to suspend its broadcasts critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in return for Pyongyang expressing "regret" over the wounding of two South Korean soldiers by North Korean land mines.

The South agreed to the suspension under the condition "unless an abnormal situation occurs," implying that the broadcast operations could restart if North Korea launches military provocations.

No official definition of the phrase has been given so far.

"What constitutes an abnormal situation has not been defined, but personally I believe such situations should be seen as one," Choi noted.

North Korea is reportedly preparing for a test of a long-range missile in October as part of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.