Sabotage: North Korea destroys inter-Korean infrastructure roads connecting it to South

*The North Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff say the country has detonated parts of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads north of the Military Demarcation Line that once connected it to South Korea, noting destroying them sends a clear message that North Korean President Kim Jong Un is not prepared to negotiate with the South

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

North Korea Tuesday, October 15, 2024, blew up sections of the deeply symbolic roads and railways connecting the country to the South.

Seoul’s military, which confirmed the development, said it had conducted a “counter-fire” operation in response.

It is recalled that Pyongyang’s military recently vowed to permanently seal its southern border after spending months laying mines and building anti-tank barriers in the wake of leader Kim Jong Un declaring the South his country’s “principal enemy”.

The North also accused Seoul of using drones to drop anti-regime propaganda leaflets on the capital Pyongyang, with Kim convening a security meeting to direct a plan of “immediate military action” in response, state media reported Tuesday.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff Tuesday said:

“North Korea has detonated parts of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads north of the Military Demarcation Line”, referring to inter-Korean infrastructure that once connected the two countries.

It noted: “There has been no damage to our military, and our forces conducted counter-fire in areas south of the MDL.”

The JCS added late Tuesday that some sections of railways connecting the North to the South had also been detonated, without giving further details, AFP report said.

Experts reportedly commented that the affected infrastructure have long been shuttered, but destroying them sends a clear message that Kim is not prepared to negotiate with the South.

Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies, in Seoul, also stated: “This is a practical military measure related to the hostile dual-state system that North Korea has frequently mentioned.”

The North may also be looking to erect more physical barriers along the border, Yang said, adding that the road detonations could be “preparatory work.”

South Korea’s military released video footage showing North Korean soldiers in military uniforms ahead of a huge explosion, which emitted thick billowing smoke as it blew up sections of the Gyeongui road.

More footage, apparently from after the blasts, indicated excavators digging, while soldiers worked as large red trucks arrived.

The Seoul military also released separate footage showing North Korea blowing up a section of the Donghae road, on the east coast, report said.

South Korea’s unification ministry slammed the North for what it called an “extremely abnormal” provocation, adding that Seoul had shouldered millions in costs for building the infrastructure.

“North Korea still has repayment obligations regarding this funding,” it added.

Seoul’s military initially denied sending drones north but has subsequently declined to comment, even as Pyongyang has blamed them directly, warning it would consider it “a declaration of war” if another drone was detected, according to report.

Meanwhile, China, a traditional ally of the North, has urged all parties “to avoid further escalation of conflicts” on the peninsula, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

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