After Liason Office Demolition, Kim Jong Un Suspends Military Action Against South Korea

North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un has decided to suspend its plans to take military action against South Korea, which was threatened last week.

The tensions between the two nations escalated quickly after the supreme leader’s sister Kim Yo-jong ordered the army to "decisively carry out the next action" against South Korea after the nation failed to stop the activists from floating balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

Shortly after her address to the army, the liaison office which was set up in 2018 was blown to dust. The incident left the world speculating what was about to come and increased the possibility of an attack led by the North Korean army on its Southern neighbor.

However, a meeting chaired by leader Kim Jong Un, the state media said that the decision to take military action against South Korea has been suspended. It also reported that the decision has been taken by the Central Military Commission after considering the “current situation.”

The state news agency KCNA reports that the meeting also discussed documents highlighting “further bolstering the war deterrent of the country." The Nothern nation also started to remove its loudspeakers that were placed only last week, which are traditionally used to blast anti-South Korean messages over the border.

Even though Kim Jong Un’s sister had ordered the military to prepare a plan against its Southern neighbor, the plan ultimately had to be approved by the Central Military Commission or rather, the Supreme Leader himself.

His decision to suspend the military action may be regarded as his willingness to diffuse the situation and may bring him greater respect and praise domestically.

The plans have been suspended and not canceled.

But why was the liaison office blown up in the first place if military action had to be suspended later?

That may have resulted due to an amalgamation of three main reasons.

First, Kim Jong Un might have felt betrayed after he met with U.S. President Donald Trump concerning maintaining peace and security in the Korean Peninsula. That did not happen as the leader has accused Trump before for not doing enough for the region.

Secondly, North Korea's economy is strained due to limited trade with China. Lastly, Kim Jong Un’s sister is trying to establish herself as a person of authority and needs to show competence and strength to the elite and militarists' elder generation.