Asia-Pacific

ROK lowers surveillance alert level against DPRK

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-07 20:04

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military has lowered its surveillance alert level against possible aggression from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by one notch from level two to level three, local media reported Friday, citing military sources.

The adjustment, made on Tuesday, came after Pyongyang reportedly lifted its order of special alertness for the Yellow Sea border areas recently, according to Seoul's state-run KBS broadcaster.

Related readings:  DPRK urges ROK to accept proposal for dialogue  ROK to send three DPRK fishermen back home  ROK to conduct war games amid tensions  DPRK proposes unconditional dialogue with ROK

The DPRK ordered a special alert in November last year when the ROK was holding drills code-named "Hoguk Exercise".

The government and the military are studying whether Pyongyang' s move is related to its recent conciliatory gestures, Seoul's military sources were quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the ROK-US Combined Forces Command also lowered its watchcon surveillance alert from level two to level three as of Tuesday, according to the report.

The ROK raised its surveillance alert to its second-highest level, a state of emergency, after it exchanged artillery fire with the DPRK near Yeonpyeong Island on November 23, which resulted in the death of four ROK people.

Watchcon is a five-stage surveillance system in the ROK watching over the DPRK's military movements. The higher the level, the more spy satellites, reconnaissance planes and intelligence analysts are deployed on more frequent monitoring missions.

The DPRK recently offered a series of peace overtures, calling for unconditional dialogue with the ROK as soon as possible to "demolish misunderstanding and distrust as well as achieve peace and prosperity."