North Korea builds 200 new observation posts along DMZ - from TRUNEWS

(TRUNEWS) North Korea has built approximately 200 new observation posts along the heavily-fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) bordering South Korea.

“Since the end of last year, the North Korean military has been spotted briskly building up observation posts along the DMZ that separates the two sides,” an anonymous South Korean military official told Yonhap.

The official added, ”We have closely been following the developments on the assumption that the increase of observation posts along the DMZ could have many different purposes.”

The Korean DMZ was established in the 1953 Armistice Agreement which signified the end —or, at least, paused — armed confrontation in the Korean War. Built along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), or more popularly known as the 38th parallel north, the DMZ is the most heavily militarized border in the world — spanning roughly 160 miles wide and 2.5 miles deep.

On the North Korean side, concrete structures built to hold two man sentry teams serve as military observation posts, and though South Korea mans similar outposts, the North maintains more than twice as many border forces as the South.

The anonymous officials said the recent military buildup at the border could be a sign of more aggressive military operations to come, but also could be aimed at keeping watch on North Korean soldiers attempting to defect their communist enclave.

Since the beginning of 2016, North Korea has heavily escalated both their rhetoric and physical military preparations for a potential conflict with the west. According to Rodong Sinmun newspaper, Kim Jung Un’s regime has allocated 15.9% of their estimated $11-15 billion 2016 state budget to defense spending.

Between their multiple threats, just this past week to nuke the United States, and their multiple ballistic missile tests throughout January, February, and March, every aspect of North Korea’s military deployments are being heavily scrutinized, including their border security forces.

North Korean soldiers keep watch as U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and his South Korean counterpart Han Min-Koo (both not pictured) visit the truce village of Panmunjom, in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, November 1, 2015. REUTERS/Korea Pool/Yonhap

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