North Korea has blown up parts of two key roads connected to the southern part of the peninsula, South Korean officials reported on Tuesday, following Pyongyang’s recent warning of actions to sever ties with the South completely.
The blasts targeted sections of the Gyeongui and Donghae lines—major road and rail links on the West and East coasts, respectively—at around noon, local time, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
These routes, which haven’t been used for years, serve more symbolic than practical purposes, given the peninsula’s division by one of the most fortified borders globally.
Read Also: Harris Losing Ground To Trump In US Presidential Race – Polls
Footage from South Korea’s Defense Ministry showed explosions on the northern side of the military demarcation line separating the two countries, followed by heavy machinery being deployed to the scene.
The JCS confirmed that North Korea was conducting additional works with machinery but did not provide further details.
In response, the South Korean military fired warning shots and is monitoring North Korea’s activities closely, maintaining readiness in collaboration with the United States.
Read Also: US To Deploy About 100 Troops To Operate Advanced Anti-Missile System In Israel
Earlier, on Monday, South Korea had detected preparations by the North to demolish roads and warned of imminent explosions. Despite countermeasures by Seoul, specifics were not provided.
JCS spokesman Lee Sung-joon stated that North Korean workers were observed behind barriers set up on their side of the border.
The destruction follows heightened tensions after North Korea accused the South of flying propaganda drones over Pyongyang and threatened retaliation.
North Korea had also announced plans to sever all remaining connections with the South, following leader Kim Jong Un’s earlier decision to abandon efforts at peaceful reunification.
Since the Korean War’s end in 1953, both nations remain technically at war. In January, Kim declared that inter-Korean relations were now between “two hostile countries” rather than neighbors seeking reconciliation.
In a recent statement via state-run KCNA, North Korea’s military warned it would sever the remaining road and rail links in response to what it sees as provocations from South Korea, including military exercises and U.S. deployments in the region.
Read Also: Things You Don’t Know About SpaceX
North Korea has fortified its border over the past year, laying mines and dismantling railway infrastructure, while leaders from both sides have escalated their rhetoric.
Kim recently threatened nuclear retaliation against South Korea, intensifying global concerns, especially as Pyongyang strengthens its ties with Russia.
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, suggests that Kim’s actions may be an attempt to deflect blame for North Korea’s economic challenges and justify its nuclear buildup by exaggerating external threats.
He adds that while Kim projects military strength, his moves may signal underlying political weakness.
See video below:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
