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North Korea has destroyed sections of inter-Korean roads on its side of the heavily fortified border, according to South Korea‘s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The roads, once symbols of fragile cooperation between the two Koreas, had for long been left unused.
The move, confirmed by South Korea on Tuesday, signals yet another step towards severing what little remains of inter-Korean ties.
South Korea’s military, while denouncing the destruction of the roads, has responded by bolstering its defenses. “We are reinforcing our readiness to ensure the security of our nation,” the Joint Chiefs said.
This latest development comes at a time of heightened animosity between the two neighbors, further exacerbated by accusations from the North that South Korea had flown drones over its capital, Pyongyang. These allegations, coupled with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent directive for “immediate military action,” have stirred fears of a broader confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.
Earlier, the North accused the South of using drones to drop anti-regime propaganda over Pyongyang, prompting Kim to convene an emergency national security meeting.
According to state-run media, Kim ordered his military to be on high alert, ready to fire at any foreign objects crossing the border. The South, meanwhile, initially denied the drone accusations but later refused to confirm or deny any such operations.
The once-open lines of communication between the two Koreas have all but disintegrated, with relations now at their lowest point in years. Just last week, North Korea announced its intentions to completely sever the southern border, not only cutting off roads but also railways. The North also declared it would build “strong defense structures” along the border, a move interpreted as a reinforcement of its already strong military presence.
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