North Korea Destroys Border Links, Labels South Korea a “Hostile State”
North Korea has destroyed sections of its road and railway links with South Korea, labeling its neighbor a “hostile state,” according to news reports.
The Korean People’s Army reportedly demolished 60-meter-long stretches of road and rail along both the east and west sections of the inter-Korean border as part of what they described as a “phased complete separation” from the South.
This declaration of South Korea as a “hostile state” follows a recent meeting of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, where discussions centered on amending the country’s constitution.
During a speech to the assembly earlier this year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed that reunification with South Korea was no longer feasible, emphasizing the need to view the South as a separate, antagonistic nation.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) indicated that this measure aligns with the DPRK Constitution, which designates South Korea as a hostile entity. The North has cited serious security concerns, claiming the political and military provocations from South Korea have brought the situation to a precarious point. A spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of Defence stated that further steps would be taken to “permanently fortify” the border, although specific details were not provided.
Tensions have been rising between North and South Korea, which remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended without a peace treaty. Recent developments include North Korea’s threats of retaliation against South Korea, accusing it of conducting drone operations to deliver propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang. In response, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff urged restraint, while confirming that they could not validate the North’s claims.
