South Korea: North Korea blew up northern sections of inter-Korean roads on Tuesday

South Korea: As tensions between the two countries rise over North Korea‘s allegation that South Korea flew drones over its capital, Pyongyang, South Korea announced on Tuesday that North Korea had destroyed the northern sections of inter-Korean highways that were no longer in use.

In a succinct statement, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea reported that North Korea had detonated portions of the roadways on Tuesday.

It added that the military of South Korea is strengthening its preparedness and surveillance posture but did not provide any more information.

One day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened a conference with his senior military and security personnel, explosions occurred. According to earlier reports from North Korea’s official media, Kim outlined specific tasks related to “immediate military action” and the use of his “war deterrent” to protect the nation’s sovereignty during the meeting. He also described the alleged South Korean drone flights as the “enemy’s serious provocation.”

Previously, North Korea placed front-line artillery and other army units on alert to attack South Korea in the event that South Korean drones are discovered flying over North Korea once again. Although it has not to acknowledge if it dispatched drones, South Korea has pledged to harshly punish North Korea should its people’ safety be in danger.

Destroying the roads would be consistent with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s efforts to sever all connections with South Korea, designate it as his nation’s main adversary, and give up on the North’s long-standing goal of peacefully unifying Korea.

Two road routes and two rail lines between the two Koreas were reconnected across their highly militarized border during the last period of inter-Korean detente in the 2000s. However, when tensions between the Koreas grew over North Korea’s nuclear program and other matters, their activities were eventually terminated one by one.

In response to “confrontational hysteria” by South Korean and American soldiers, North Korea said last week that it will permanently close its border with South Korea and erect front-line military systems.

Since early this year, according to South Korean authorities, North Korea has begun erecting anti-tank obstacles and placing mines along the border. According to them, North Korea has also severed connections on the northern side of the railroads, placed mines, and took out lighting along its portions of the inter-Korean roadways.