Şevval Tufan – Turkish Journal
South Korean officials have confirmed that North Korea has destroyed sections of two important roads connecting it to South Korea, in response to Pyongyang’s threat of cutting all ties with the South. The areas affected are parts of the Gyeongui line on the west coast and the Donghae line on the east coast, both of which serve as links between the two Koreas via road and rail. The explosions took place around noon on Tuesday, as verified by the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
At Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, a news program displayed on a TV screen announced that North Korea had destroyed sections of the inter-Korean roads in the northern part. The sign shown on the screen indicated, “North-South Gyeongui and Donghae roads line connection section.” The image was captured by AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon.
/Even though the roads have been inactive for years due to the heavily fortified border between the two nations, the demolition is symbolically significant, occurring amidst increased tensions and strong language between the leadership of North and South Korea. South Korea’s Ministry of Defense released footage showing multiple explosions north of the military demarcation line, followed by the deployment of heavy machinery, including trucks and excavators, at the site. The JCS confirmed that additional work was being carried out, but did not provide further details.
In response, the South Korean military fired shots south of the demarcation line and is closely monitoring North Korean military movements, while maintaining full readiness in coordination with U.S. forces, the JCS added.
On Monday, South Korean officials had already noticed signs indicating that North Korea was preparing to destroy the roads and had warned of imminent explosions. While countermeasures were taken, specific details were not disclosed. JCS spokesperson Lee Sung-joon reported that North Korean workers were seen behind barriers on the northern side of the border before the explosions.
The incident follows allegations from North Korea, which asserted that South Korea had sent drones carrying propaganda over Pyongyang. In response, Pyongyang threatened retaliation, marking the latest in a series of hostile exchanges that have escalated tensions between the two countries.
North Korea’s action comes after its army warned last week that it would take “substantial military steps” to sever all remaining connections with the South, following North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s decision earlier this year to abandon efforts toward peaceful reunification. The Korean Peninsula has been divided since the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War, with both nations technically still at war.
In a statement on October 9, the Korean People’s Army announced that remaining roads and railways connecting the two countries would be permanently cut to protect North Korean national security. The announcement blamed recent military exercises in South Korea and the presence of U.S. nuclear assets in the region for the escalation, citing these as provocations that required a stronger military response.
Since January, North Korea has strengthened its border defenses, including the installation of landmines and anti-tank barriers, and has dismantled railway infrastructure. The ongoing tensions have also been intensified by increasingly aggressive rhetoric from both sides, with North Korea threatening nuclear retaliation should it be attacked, while South Korea’s president has warned that any use of nuclear weapons by the North would result in the regime’s destruction.
Experts suggest that North Korea’s decision to sever ties may be an effort by Kim Jong Un to divert attention from the country’s economic struggles while justifying its focus on missile and nuclear weapons development. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, commented that while Kim seeks to project military strength, these actions may actually reflect underlying political weaknesses in the regime.
Photo: APNEWS
News Source: CNN News
