
released by South Korea’s Defense Ministry shows explosions along roads on the north side of the military demarcation line that separates the two Koreas. South Korea’s Defense Ministry
Published October 15, 2024
Seoul, South Korea CNN — North Korea blew up parts of two major roads connected to the southern part of the peninsula on Tuesday, South Korean authorities said, after Pyongyang warned it would take steps to completely cut off its territory from the South.
Parts of the Gyeongui line on the West coast and Donghae line on the East coast, two major road and railway links connecting the North and South, were destroyed by explosives at around 12 p.m. Korean local time, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
In practical terms, the destruction of the travel routes makes little difference – the two Koreas remain divided by one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders and the roads were not in use for years. But its symbolism comes at a time of particularly fiery rhetoric between the two Korean leaders.
Video shared by the South Korean Defense Ministry showed several explosions on roads on the north side of the military demarcation line that separates two Koreas. Heavy machinery including trucks and excavators were then deployed to at least one of the roads, which was partially blocked by a black barrier, according to the video. The JCS said the North was conducting “additional works with heavy machinery” at the scene, but didn’t specify further.
In response to the explosions, the South Korean military opened gunfire within the area south of the military demarcation line and is closely monitoring the North Korean military’s movements, maintaining “fully readiness posture under cooperation with the US,” the JCS said.
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SOURCE: www.edition.cnn.com
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A scene in the video provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff shows explosions taking place at the Gyeongui and Donghae roads on Oct. 15, 2024. (Yonhap)
Published October 15, 2024
SEOUL – North Korea on Tuesday blew up roads connected to South Korea once seen as symbols of inter-Korean cooperation as it seeks to cement its animosity toward the South, which it regards as a “primary foe.”
“The North Korean military conducted detonations, assumed to be aimed at cutting off the Gyeongui and Donghae roads, at around noon and is carrying out additional activities using heavy equipment,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a text message to reporters.
The JCS said the South’s military did not suffer any damage and that it responded by firing shots south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) as a means of self-defense and as a warning against acts that likely violate the Armistice Agreement.
“The military is closely monitoring the North Korean military’s activities and maintains a firm readiness posture amid strengthened surveillance under South Korea-U.S. cooperation,” it added.
The detonations took place in areas just 10 meters away from the MDL at 11:49 a.m. on the road along the Gyeongui line and at 12:01 p.m. on the road along the Donghae line, respectively, affecting land routes measuring tens of meters, a JCS official said.
Last week, the North’s military announced a plan to “completely separate” North Korea’s territory from South Korea, saying it had informed the U.S. military of the move to “prevent any misjudgment and accidental conflict.”