North Korea has detonated sections of roads connecting it to South Korea, according to South Korea’s military. The explosions occurred along parts of the roads just north of the military demarcation line, which separates the two countries. The destruction took place around midday (03:00 GMT), as reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement to the media on Tuesday. This act further escalates tensions in the already volatile region.
The South Korean military responded by firing warning shots south of the demarcation line, according to officials. This came after Seoul had warned on Monday that Pyongyang was preparing to destroy the roads.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been escalating, especially after North Korea accused South Korea of sending drones carrying propaganda leaflets over its capital, Pyongyang. These developments have heightened the already fraught atmosphere between the two nations.
The explosions followed a meeting held by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with top military and security officials, where he discussed what he called the "enemy's serious provocation" of drone flights over Pyongyang. During the meeting, Kim outlined unspecified military tasks, hinting at "immediate military action" and the operation of North Korea's "war deterrent" to defend the country's sovereignty, as reported by state media.
North Korea had already placed frontline artillery and army units on standby, threatening to launch attacks on South Korea if drones were detected again. While South Korea has not confirmed sending drones, it has warned of severe consequences if North Korea endangers its citizens' safety.
The destruction of the roads aligns with Kim Jong Un's efforts to sever ties with South Korea, formally solidify the South as North Korea's principal adversary, and abandon the long-standing goal of peaceful unification. This is reminiscent of North Korea's 2020 demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office, marking the end of a brief period of reconciliation.
In November last year, Pyongyang pledged to deploy more troops and military equipment to the border, dismissing the 2018 joint military agreement after Seoul halted parts of it in response to North Korea’s military satellite launch. South Korean officials have also noted that North Korea has been reinforcing the border with antitank barriers and landmines earlier this year.
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