North Korea Destroys Roads to South Korea, Raising Tensions

North Korea has demolished sections of the roads connecting it to South Korea, escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that parts of the road north of the military demarcation line were blown up around midday on Tuesday (03:00 GMT).

South Korea’s military responded by firing warning shots south of the line and had earlier warned that Pyongyang was preparing to carry out this action. The development follows rising tensions, with North Korea accusing its southern neighbor of sending drones carrying propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang.

The explosions occurred a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a high-level meeting with his military and security officials, where he referred to the alleged drone flights as a “serious provocation.” During the meeting, Kim emphasized the need for “immediate military action” and discussed strategies to operate the country’s “war deterrent” to safeguard its sovereignty.

North Korea had earlier placed its frontline artillery and other units on standby to launch attacks if similar incidents were reported again. While South Korea has neither confirmed nor denied sending drones, it has warned of stern consequences if North Korea threatens the safety of its citizens.

The destruction of the roads appears to be part of Kim Jong Un’s broader strategy to sever ties with South Korea, solidify it as a primary adversary, and abandon any efforts towards peaceful Korean reunification.