North Korea blew up the inter-Korean road on the Gyeongui Line and the East Sea Line...our military counter-fire

■ Proceedings: Youngsoo Kim anchor
■ Telephone connection: Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University

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[Anchor]
Then, let's connect Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, to point out North Korea's intentions and the possibility of further provocations. The professor is here. What do you think is the biggest intention of North Korea's bombing of the inter-Korean road?

[Park Won-gon]
These are things that North Korea has already predicted to a certain level. Because I will fortify it through the statement of the General Staff last time. The meaning of fortification is that we will clearly sever the relationship between the two Koreas. In fact, at the end of the year and the beginning of the year, Chairman Kim Jong-un declared a change of route to the South, saying that he would no longer pursue national unification and use relations with South Korea as two warring and hostile countries. Since then, we have taken a number of related measures steadily. I think it's been quick to take that step recently and in particular, it's characterized by a very clear formulation of the fortification that breaks that inter-Korean relationship.

[Anchor]
Possible additional provocations, what do you expect?

[Park Won-gon]
There is certainly a possibility of further provocation. However, I think the various characteristics of provocation are different. From North Korea's point of view, it is showing such behaviors as imposing symbolism while completing a kind of fortification work. This time, it was not necessary to detonate it, but it is imposing symbolic meaning by detonating it. I'm cautious, but maybe tomorrow, North Korea will release a video of its bombing. Through this, it is possible to clearly show North Koreans that relations with South Korea and relations with South Korea are hostile, and to continue to show the two national theories of war against South Korea. If so, we judge that this type of provocation can proceed until their own fortification work is completed for a considerable period of time.

[Anchor]
And North Korea recently threatened to act according to our judgment in the event of another drone appearing over Pyongyang. At the same time, he also ordered the preparation for shooting.

[Park Won-gon]
The drone and the fortification work are not completely linked, but I think it's right to say that they are being carried out in two. North Korea has clearly shown its position on drones over the past three or four days, and if I summarize and narrow down my position, I think the message of drones entering Pyongyang again in South Korea is the strongest. If drones no longer enter, there is a very high possibility that North Korea will not take additional or military measures after this.

From the perspective of North Korea, they said that if drones come, they will take various military measures against them, but the military measures they take are also a considerable burden on North Korea. So what North Korea currently wants is that it wants drones not to come from South Korea. Yesterday, Vice Minister Kim Yo-jong made a short statement referring to the United States.

If you look at the content of the discourse, in the end, the U.S. does not want to create tension on the Korean Peninsula, so please cooperate with the South Korean government to prevent drones from coming to North Korea, which can be interpreted as such. As for now, North Korea does not want further escalation and is trying to manage the crisis. It is judged that there is such an intention.

[Anchor]
I'll give you the last question. Our military fired back south of the military demarcation line. It is also in a situation where the firepower standby has been upgraded. How should our military respond?

[Park Won-gon]
I think it is necessary to prepare for various possibilities by opening them up. In particular, there is uncertainty about what will happen to drones, so if the drones enter Pyongyang from South Korea again, there is a possibility that North Korea will first work to shoot down the drones. However, since it is not easy to identify drones, there are doubts about whether they will be possible. If I miss it, I think I can take military measures toward Korea because there are various statements that they have made.

That's why I think we should move with all the possibilities open. However, as I said, North Korea has planned and moved for quite a long time, so of course, we cannot rule out the possibility of an accidental conflict there.Ma thinks the possibility of armed conflict over there is relatively low.

[Anchor]
In short, our Ministry of Unification said that we have provided a 130 million dollar loan and that we are obligated to repay it. How do you think North Korea will respond?

[Park Won-gon]
North Korea won't acknowledge that at all. Because didn't North Korea literally blow up the joint inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong in 2020? Even then, it cost 44 billion won in Korean taxes. On top of that, we've taken a number of steps to get compensation.Ma thinks that North Korea basically completely ignores international norms or treaties between countries, so we are quite limited in asking for compensation for that.

[Anchor]
Thank you. So far, I have been with Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University. Thank you.