On October 17, North Korea revealed through its domestic media that it had blown up the inter-Korean roads connecting the Gyeongui Line and the Donghae Line, declaring South Korea a “completely hostile state.”
The state-run Rodong Sinmun reported, “As part of a phased measure to completely separate the sovereignty zones of our nation and South Korea’s territory, we have physically severed the roads and railways connected to the southern border.”
The demolition reportedly took place on October 15, and while North Korea initially announced the action through its external propaganda outlet, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), it took two days before informing its citizens through the Rodong Sinmun.
The newspaper justified the move, citing North Korea’s constitution, which regulates South Korea as a “completely hostile state.” It further claimed that the measure was necessary in response to “severe political and military provocations by hostile forces,” adding that the current security environment has led the region to the brink of an “unpredictable war.”
The report emphasized that the recent action has “completely severed the links” between North and South Korea, and that further steps would be taken to permanently fortify the closed southern border.
In a separate article titled “We Will Fight Without Hesitation to Protect the Dignity of Our Nation,” the Rodong Sinmun harshly criticized South Korea, stating that “the people’s hatred and anger toward the South Korean puppets, who dared to mention the ‘end of the regime’ while severely violating the sacred sovereignty and dignity of our republic, have reached the limit.”
The report also quoted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as saying, “We will respond decisively to any provocation or war maneuver that threatens our nation’s sovereignty and dignity, and we will impose punishment.”
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
