On Tuesday, Yonhap News reported that North Korea detonated explosives around noon, destroying sections of the Gyeongui and Donghae lines located north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed the explosions and noted that North Korean forces quickly mobilized heavy machinery to continue their operations.
According to the JCS, the explosions did not damage South Korean military forces. In response, South Korea conducted counter-fire drills in areas south of the MDL and strengthened surveillance and readiness measures to ensure full preparedness.
North Korea, which has labeled the inter-Korean relationship as “hostile between two nations,” had been signaling its intention to sever ties for months. Since November of last year, North Korea has been scattering landmines near the shared land routes. On October 9, Pyongyang notified the United Nations Command of its plans to ultimately cut off roads and railways linking the two countries. They followed through on those plans with the demolition work six days later.
In its October 9 notice, North Korea warned, “We will completely cut off the roads and railways connected to the Republic of Korea and proceed with fortifying them with solid defensive structures.”
The JCS also released footage of the demolition work on Tuesday.
The Gyeongui and Donghae railways and the roads connecting the two Koreas were part of a larger inter-Korean infrastructure project that had received a $132.9 million loan from the South Korean government. The total cost of the land route is estimated at around 180 billion won (approximately $135 million), but North Korea’s demolition efforts have destroyed much of that investment.
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