A North Korea The roads connecting its territory to Seoul exploded around noon (local time) on Tuesday the 15th, according to information released by the South Korean Army. In response to the action, he fired warning shots near the border between the two countries.
“North Korea detonated parts of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads north of Military Demarcation Line (LDM). There was no damage to our military, and our forces fired in areas south of the LDM,” said the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the South Koreareferring to the infrastructure that once linked the two countries.
These roads are considered symbolic in connecting two countries separated since the Korean War in the early 1950s. The explosions occur a week after Pyongyang promised to permanently close its southern border, in protest of military exercises in the neighboring country, including with the use of nuclear weapons provided by the United States.
Pyongyang also accuses Seoul of using drones to drop leaflets with information against the regime. In reaction, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-uncalled a meeting this Monday to draw up a plan for “immediate military action”, according to information from the North Korean state media network KCNA.
During the meeting, the episode was reported as a “serious provocation by the enemy”, and Kim “expressed a tough political and military position”, according to the agency.
Pyongyang’s attitude reinforces the words spoken at the beginning of 2024 by the North Korean leader, that South Korea is his country’s “main enemy”. Amid the escalation of tension between the two Koreas, in recent months the North has installed mines, built anti-tank barriers and posted missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads – all of this on a border that is already extremely guarded and militarized.
Seoul releases images
South Korea’s military has released videos of North Korean soldiers dressed in military uniforms before a massive explosion emitting thick smoke after detonating sections of Gyeongui Road.
Other images show excavators in action and the arrival of red trucks, amid soldiers’ work, apparently after the explosions. Seoul also released videos of the explosion of a section of the Donghae road on the east coast.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification called the move an “extremely abnormal” provocation, adding that Seoul had invested millions to build the infrastructure, and “North Korea still has payments to be made in connection with this financing.”
Experts believe in more barriers
The roads connecting North and South Korea had been closed for some time. But destroying them, experts say, sends a clear message that the North Korean leader is not willing to negotiate with Seoul.
“This is a practical military measure related to the hostile dual-state system that North Korea frequently mentions,” said Yang Moo-jin, president of Seoul University of North Korean Studies.
Yang also believes Pyongyang may intend to build even more physical barriers along the border, and the road blasts could be “preparatory work.”
Now the question is whether “North Korea will respond by sending drones to the South or whether it will take strong measures if drones infiltrate its territory again”, asks Cheong Seong-chang, from the South Korean King Sejong Institute.
A China spoke out about the episode, asking both Koreas to avoid further escalation, following the road explosions by Pyongyang. “Tensions on the Korean peninsula do not serve the common interests of all parties, and the priority is to avoid further escalation of the conflict,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Battle” of drones and balloons
Firstly, the South’s military denied having sent drones into North Korean territory. Afterwards, however, they refused to comment on the episode, even though Pyongyang directly accused Seoul, including classifying the hypothetical sending of new drones as “a declaration of war”.
Kim Yo-jong, sister of the North Korean leader, said that Pyongyang had obtained “clear evidence” that the South Korean military was responsible for the drones: “The provocateurs will pay a high price,” she said. North Korea also said that the Americans, who have a military alliance with South Korea, should also be held responsible.
Months ago, South Korean activists sent flying objects such as balloons and drones to the north carrying leaflets against the northern regime. In the case of drones, normally made of metal, activists build copies with a material similar to Styrofoam, which makes detection difficult by authorities on both sides.
On December 26, 2022, South Korea claimed that North drones had invaded its airspace, forcing it to fire warning shots and deploy aircraft. It was the first time since 2017 that North Korean drones crossed South Korean airspace.
According to the Ministry of Defense in Seoul, after the warning shots, fighter jets and helicopters were sent to shoot down the North Korean drones, but without success. As a result, Seoul said it would deploy lasers capable of melting drones, and that its ability to react to provocations would be “significantly improved”.
