SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea said Monday it has detected signs that North Korea is preparing to destroy the northern section of the North-South Highway, which is no longer in use. This comes as the rival countries are embroiled in rising tensions over North Korea’s claims to the South. South Korea has flown drones over its territory.
The road destruction comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seeks to sever ties with South Korea, formally cement South Korea as his country’s main enemy, and abandon North Korea’s decades-long goal of peacefully reunifying the country. This will be consistent with the promotion of
South Korea’s military said on Monday that it was monitoring various activities in North Korea that appeared to be preparations for road destruction, including the installation of screens.
“They have set up screens on the roads and are working behind the scenes, preparing for road bombings,” Lee Sung-joon, a spokesman for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news conference. He said demolition could take place as early as Monday.
Lee said the South Korean military believes North Korea may also attempt to launch a space rocket, which the United Nations considers a prohibited test of long-range missile technology. Lee said North Korea may carry out unspecified “small-scale provocations” to increase pressure on South Korea.
It is not clear which part of the road North Korea will destroy.
The development comes as North Korea recently accused South Korea of launching drones to scatter propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang three times this month, and has threatened to respond with force if it happens again. It happened. South Korea has refused to confirm whether it sent the drone, but has warned North Korea that it will severely punish North Korea if its people’s safety is threatened.
North Korea’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that the military had ordered artillery units and other army units near the border with South Korea to be “fully prepared for firing.” The spokesperson said that a powerful North Korean attack could “turn the entire South Korean territory into a pile of ash.”
North Korea often uses belligerent rhetoric when hostilities with rivals escalate. Experts say it is extremely unlikely that North Korea will launch a full-scale pre-emptive strike because its military power is inferior to that of the US-South Korean combined forces.
Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, said on Monday that North Korea’s accusations about South Korea’s drone flights were likely aimed at creating tensions that would strengthen domestic unity while stirring up instability within South Korea. said. Koo said North Korea cannot get what it wants from South Korea through threats and provocations.
Some observers have suggested that anti-North Korean activists may have flown drones this month, but North Korea believes that the South Korean government should have been aware of such a move and that it remains responsible. He claims that it is impossible to escape.
In 2022, South Korea sent a surveillance drone across the border into North Korea after South Korea accused North Korea of flying a drone into South Korea for the first time in five years.
Last week, North Korea announced it would permanently close its border with South Korea and create a front-line defense system to deal with “confrontation hysteria” between South Korean and U.S. militaries. He cited various military exercises in South Korea and the temporary deployment of powerful U.S. military assets to South Korea.
North Korea has already strengthened its front-line security posture since the beginning of this year, building more anti-tank barriers, planting land mines and reinforcing roads along the border to prevent the defection of soldiers and citizens, South Korean officials said. It is said that there is a high possibility that he is going to South Korea.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are at their highest point in years, with North Korea continuing to conduct provocative missile tests and South Korea and the United States expanding military exercises. Officials have pointed out that North Korea may conduct a large-scale weapons test ahead of next month’s U.S. presidential election in order to increase its influence in future diplomacy with the United States.
In January, Kim Jong-un ordered an amendment to North Korea’s constitution to remove the goal of peaceful Korean reunification, officially designate South Korea as North Korea’s “immutable main enemy,” and define North Korea’s sovereign territory. Ta.
Kim’s order surprised many North Korea watchers, as it was seen as shattering his predecessor’s long-held dream of peacefully achieving a unified Korea on North Korea’s terms. Experts say Kim is likely aiming to weaken South Korea’s voice in regional nuclear conflicts and seek direct deals with the United States. It is also likely that Kim wants to weaken South Korea’s cultural influence and strengthen his control domestically.
