On Sunday, the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea raised the possibility that North Korea might launch large-scale provocations ahead of the November U.S. presidential election.
During a briefing at the Yongsan Office, a senior official from the Presidential Office remarked, “As various foreign media outlets have noted, both South Korea and the U.S. are closely watching for any signs that North Korea might conduct provocations to enhance its political leverage about the U.S. election.”
Despite the recent joint military exercise between South Korea and the U.S., known as Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), North Korea has so far avoided provocations like missile launches or balloon releases. Consequently, both South Korea and the U.S. are vigilant for the possibility that North Korea could be preparing significant provocations to capture global attention during the U.S. election.
The official explained, “This year, unlike previous ones, North Korea has not engaged in military provocations, missile tests, or balloon launches during UFS. However, they are maintaining a military activity similar to their usual routine. The lack of provocations may be due to recent flood damage and dissatisfaction with the intense media focus on military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. We are also considering the possibility of provocations around significant political dates, such as North Korea’s Foundation Day on September 9 and the Workers’ Party Foundation Day on October 10.”
