North Korea Escalates Military Buildup and Satellite Launches Amid Tensions

North Korea has vowed to continue exercising its sovereign rights, including satellite launches, while reportedly restoring demolished guard posts on the border with South Korea. The launch of a reconnaissance satellite last week was justified by North Korea's need to monitor the US and its allies. South Korea suspended a key clause in a 2018 military agreement and resumed aerial surveillance near the border in response to the launch. North Korea declared it was no longer bound by the agreement and began deploying weapons on the border. North Korean soldiers have been observed restoring damaged guard posts and setting up heavy weapons in the Demilitarized Zone. The United States has called an unscheduled meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the satellite launch.