As of: October 15, 2024 9:15 a.m
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are growing. North Korea wants to permanently cut border connections with South Korea. According to information from South Korea, the North has now started blowing up roads.
According to South Korean military information, North Korea has blown up parts of the inter-Korean road connections. The General Staff in Seoul announced that parts of two unused roads on the northern side of the demarcation line had been destroyed. The South Korean military then fired warning shots.
North Korea wants to cut all ties
A cloud of smoke can be seen rising from a road near the border town of Kaesong in a video provided by the South Korean military. It also shows North Korean trucks and excavators clearing the rubble.
A few days ago, North Korea announced that it wanted to permanently cut off all road and rail connections to South Korea. The reason for this was to protect national security and prevent war.
The threatening gestures are increasing
Just over the weekend, North Korea accused the South of having repeatedly sent drones carrying anti-North Korean leaflets to Pyongyang. According to North Korea’s state media, air defense observation posts have been strengthened.
South Korea did not confirm this. In response to the explosions today, the military is increasing its preparedness, Seoul said.
connecting streetßen as a diplomatic symbol
During a phase of détente in the 2000s, the two Korean states temporarily reopened two road connections and two rail connections across the heavily guarded border. In the conflict over the North Korean nuclear program and other issues, operations on the routes were later gradually suspended again.
The two Koreas are technically still at war, as the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The relationship is currently extremely tense. North Korean leader Kim recently warned that his country would “without hesitation” use nuclear weapons if attacked by the South.
