1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson discusses the South Korean military’s use of drones to conduct operations against North Korea in the lead-up to the declaration of martial law on December 3rd. The article provides details on the number of drones used, the timing of the operations, and the tensions between the Defense Minister and the military leadership over the decision to strike North Korean targets.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 무인기 | muinggi | drone | The military deployed 18 drones to North Korea. |
| 타격 | tagyeok | strike, attack | The Defense Minister instructed the military to consider striking the origin point. |
| 합참 | hapchang | Joint Chiefs of Staff | There was an internal conflict between the Defense Minister and the Joint Chiefs of Staff over the strike operation. |
| 원점 | weonjjeom | origin point | The Defense Minister wanted to strike the origin point of the North Korean provocations. |
| 계엄 | gyeom | martial law | The military deployed drones in the lead-up to the declaration of martial law on December 3rd. |
| 있습니다 | issseubnida | to be (formal) | A military official stated that there were internal conflicts over the strike operation. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
앞으로 선포될 12·3 비상계엄을 앞두고, 우리 군이 모두 열 차례에 걸쳐 무인기 18대를 북한에 보냈다는 내부 증언이 나왔습니다. 이 과정에서 도발 원점 타격을 둘러싸고 김용현 당시 국방장관과 작전에 직접 책임이 있는 합참 간 내부 충돌도 계속됐다고 군 관계자는 전했습니다.
An internal testimony revealed that the South Korean military sent 18 drones to North Korea in a total of ten operations, leading up to the declaration of martial law on December 3rd. During this process, there were ongoing internal conflicts between then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who were directly responsible for the operation, over the issue of striking the origin point of the provocations, according to a military official.
북한은 지난해 10월, 우리 군이 세 차례에 걸쳐 평양에 무인기를 보내 전단을 살포했다고 주장했습니다. 합참은 확인해줄 수 없단 입장을 고수하고 있지만, 계엄 사태 이후 특검 수사가 진행되면서 이런 정황은 기정사실로 드러나고 있습니다. 동원된 무인기는 18대로, 특히 10월 8일 밤 두 번째 평양 투입 작전 때는 4대가 날아갔다고 증언했습니다.
North Korea claimed that the South Korean military sent drones to Pyongyang three times last October to drop leaflets. The Joint Chiefs of Staff have maintained that they cannot confirm this, but as a special prosecutor’s investigation is underway following the martial law situation, these circumstances are emerging as established facts. The drones deployed numbered 18 in total, and during the second operation to infiltrate Pyongyang on the night of October 8th, 4 drones were lost, according to the testimony.
마지막 작전은 계엄 선포 2주 전인 11월 19일, 북한이 31번째 대남 쓰레기 풍선을 살포한 다음 날로 파악됐습니다. 당시 김 전 장관은 합참 작전본부장에게 북한이 또 쓰레기 풍선을 보내면 원점 타격을 건의하라고 지시한 것으로 전해졌습니다.
The final operation was carried out the day after North Korea launched its 31st anti-South Korea propaganda balloon on November 19th, just two weeks before the declaration of martial law. At the time, it is reported that then-Minister Kim instructed the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s operations headquarters to recommend striking the origin point if North Korea sent another propaganda balloon.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- How many drones did the South Korean military deploy to North Korea in the lead-up to the declaration of martial law?
- What was the main point of conflict between the Defense Minister and the Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding the drone operations?
- When did North Korea claim that the South Korean military had sent drones to Pyongyang to drop leaflets?
- How many drones were lost during the second operation to infiltrate Pyongyang on October 8th?
- What did the Defense Minister instruct the Joint Chiefs of Staff to do if North Korea sent another propaganda balloon?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The use of drones by the South Korean military against North Korea reflects the ongoing tensions and military posturing between the two countries. The internal conflicts between the civilian leadership and the military leadership over the decision to strike North Korean targets also highlights the complex dynamics involved in military decision-making. The article provides a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes operations and power struggles that can occur during periods of heightened geopolitical tensions.