"North Korea Destroys Inter-Korean Road and Rail Links Near Border"
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SEOUL, Oct 15 (Reuters) - On Tuesday, North Korea detonated portions of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the heavily fortified border with South Korea, leading South Korea’s military to fire warning shots. Tensions have been escalating on the Korean peninsula, following Pyongyang's announcement last week that it would sever all inter-Korean transportation links and strengthen border defenses as part of its drive for a "two-state" system.
The destruction occurred around midday, affecting northern sections of the road and rail lines connected to South Korea, according to the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Seoul’s unification ministry, which oversees cross-border relations, condemned the act as a blatant violation of previous inter-Korean agreements, labeling it "highly abnormal."
"It is regrettable that North Korea continues to engage in such backward behavior," said Koo Byoung-sam, a ministry spokesperson, during a briefing.
In response, South Korea's military fired warning shots near the military demarcation line, although no damage was reported on the southern side of the border. Footage released by South Korea’s military depicted an explosion followed by smoke rising from a road where the North had erected a black barrier. A road sign on the South’s side read "Goodbye," noting the North Korean city of Kaesong just 10 meters ahead.
The video also showed heavy machinery, including dump trucks and earth-movers, accompanied by North Korean military officials overseeing the operation. The JCS reported that North Korea had been laying landmines and constructing barriers along the border and had warned the South on Monday of its plans to carry out a detonation. Following the incident, South Korea ramped up surveillance and preparedness.
Past Signs of Reconciliation
North Korea has been taking steps to sever ties with South Korea, officially designating it as a hostile state since Kim Jong Un declared earlier this year that unification was no longer a possibility and labeled the South a "primary foe."
The two Koreas remain technically at war, as their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The destroyed roads and railways were once symbols of inter-Korean cooperation, part of a 2018 summit aimed at rapprochement. Seoul had invested over $132 million in rebuilding these links, largely through low-interest loans to Pyongyang, according to unification ministry data.
"This was a significant inter-Korean cooperation project initiated at the request of the North," Koo stated, adding that North Korea is still obligated to repay the loans.
In 2020, North Korea demolished a joint liaison office established in a border town after nuclear talks with the U.S. fell through. South Korea later sued North Korea in 2023, seeking 45 billion won ($33 million) in damages from the office’s destruction.
Tensions further escalated last week when North Korea accused Seoul of flying drones over Pyongyang, allegedly dropping a "huge number" of anti-North leaflets. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, warned South Korea of a looming "horrible disaster." When asked about the alleged drone flights, a South Korean JCS spokesperson declined to comment. Earlier on Monday, North Korean state media KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un had held a meeting with defense and security officials to discuss responses to the drone incident.
See Video
SEOUL, Oct 15 (Reuters) - On Tuesday, North Korea detonated portions of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the heavily fortified border with South Korea, leading South Korea’s military to fire warning shots. Tensions have been escalating on the Korean peninsula, following Pyongyang's announcement last week that it would sever all inter-Korean transportation links and strengthen border defenses as part of its drive for a "two-state" system.
The destruction occurred around midday, affecting northern sections of the road and rail lines connected to South Korea, according to the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Seoul’s unification ministry, which oversees cross-border relations, condemned the act as a blatant violation of previous inter-Korean agreements, labeling it "highly abnormal."
"It is regrettable that North Korea continues to engage in such backward behavior," said Koo Byoung-sam, a ministry spokesperson, during a briefing.
In response, South Korea's military fired warning shots near the military demarcation line, although no damage was reported on the southern side of the border. Footage released by South Korea’s military depicted an explosion followed by smoke rising from a road where the North had erected a black barrier. A road sign on the South’s side read "Goodbye," noting the North Korean city of Kaesong just 10 meters ahead.
The video also showed heavy machinery, including dump trucks and earth-movers, accompanied by North Korean military officials overseeing the operation. The JCS reported that North Korea had been laying landmines and constructing barriers along the border and had warned the South on Monday of its plans to carry out a detonation. Following the incident, South Korea ramped up surveillance and preparedness.
Past Signs of Reconciliation
North Korea has been taking steps to sever ties with South Korea, officially designating it as a hostile state since Kim Jong Un declared earlier this year that unification was no longer a possibility and labeled the South a "primary foe."
The two Koreas remain technically at war, as their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The destroyed roads and railways were once symbols of inter-Korean cooperation, part of a 2018 summit aimed at rapprochement. Seoul had invested over $132 million in rebuilding these links, largely through low-interest loans to Pyongyang, according to unification ministry data.
"This was a significant inter-Korean cooperation project initiated at the request of the North," Koo stated, adding that North Korea is still obligated to repay the loans.
In 2020, North Korea demolished a joint liaison office established in a border town after nuclear talks with the U.S. fell through. South Korea later sued North Korea in 2023, seeking 45 billion won ($33 million) in damages from the office’s destruction.
Tensions further escalated last week when North Korea accused Seoul of flying drones over Pyongyang, allegedly dropping a "huge number" of anti-North leaflets. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, warned South Korea of a looming "horrible disaster." When asked about the alleged drone flights, a South Korean JCS spokesperson declined to comment. Earlier on Monday, North Korean state media KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un had held a meeting with defense and security officials to discuss responses to the drone incident.
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