South Korea has expressed concerns over North Korea’s apparent preparations to destroy the northern sections of inter-Korean roads, a move seen as further cementing Pyongyang’s hostile stance towards its southern neighbor, The Associated Press reports.
The heightened tensions stem from a recent incident where North Korea accused South Korea of sending drones over its territory, triggering a series of retaliatory threats from the North.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea has been observed installing screens along the roads and engaging in activities indicative of imminent demolition plans. Spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said that the destruction could take place as early as Monday.
The inter-Korean roads, established during a period of détente in the 2000s, were seen as symbols of cooperation and potential unification. However, their operation was suspended as tensions escalated over North Korea’s nuclear program.
North Korea has gone further, threatening to permanently block its border with South Korea and construct front-line defense structures, citing “confrontational hysteria” from South Korea and the United States.
Experts believe that North Korea’s actions are aimed at solidifying its position as a formidable adversary, severing ties with the South and seeking direct negotiations with the United States.
This latest escalation comes amid a series of provocative missile tests by North Korea and expanded military drills between South Korea and the United States, pushing the Korean Peninsula to its highest point of tension in years.
