By This news here just confirms what I have heard before:
North Korea built about 800 bunkers in the demilitarized zone to keep military equipment between 2004 and 2007, Radio Free Asia said Monday quoting a former North Korean colonel who has worked for a South Korean military intelligence agency after defecting during the 2000s.
“Pyongyang had built at least 800 bunkers including an unknown number of decoys by 2007 to prepare for a possible invasion of South Korea,” the ex-colonel claimed. “Each bunker contains military equipment that can fully arm 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers.”
Construction began in 2004, the second year of the Roh Moo-hyun administration, which continued the so-called Sunshine Policy of its predecessor.
“If a soldier carried all his military equipment, which weighs 32 kg, and came to the DMZ in full gear, he would already be exhausted before reaching the South,” the defector said. “So they built bunkers at the DMZ and put all their operations equipment there. In the bunkers, there are South Korean military uniforms and name tags, so that they can disguise themselves as South Korean troops. Also reserved are… 60-mm mortar shells, condensed high explosives, and all sorts of ammunition.” [Chosun Ilbo]
You can read more at the link, but the military build up by the North Koreans despite the Sunshine Policy is actually quite well known.
10:10 pm on November 18th, 2009 1
I doubt it has any real significance other than they would be less tired in marching to the front before a major attack on the south. Intel would pick up their movements long before they reached their destinations.
It really only points out the weaknesses of the North even more. They don’t have the vehicles to transport troops, or that after the initial attack enough vehicles to support them. Feel sorry for the NK ground pounders who will be devoured by cluster bombs and heavy armor facing them.
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