(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) A research institute funded by the government predicts North Korea could raise military tensions by provoking South Korea next spring.
The Institute for National Security Strategy made the projection in an annual report, adding there is a high possibility provocations will come next March shortly after a joint South Korea-US military exercise, according to Korea's (KBS WORLD) website
The institute said Pyongyang is likely to make provocations to end a growing crisis over public complaints and division within North Korea's elites that was sparked by recent large-scale purges
It also said the North has been carrying out unprecedentedly intensive military drills since its third nuclear test in February
The institute said North Korea recently deployed around 60 attack helicopters and 200 multiple rocket launchers near South Korean islands in the Yellow Sea
The institute said the North is likely to assume a cautious stance in carrying out armed provocations and could rather engage in cyber terrorism which is hard to trace and has less retaliation risks
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