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On Tuesday, the South Korean army said North Korean authorities carried out several controlled explosions to destroy several sections of roads connecting both countries, The measure came after Pyongyang threatened to “permanently” close the “de facto” border between North Korea and South Korea.

“North Korea has blown up parts of the Gyeonggi Line (in the west) and Donghae Line (in the east), north of the military demarcation line,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement compiled by Yonhap news agency. that the army has begun strengthen your alertness and readiness amid possible rising tensions.

South Korean security forces have warned that North Korea will also placement of “heavy equipment” in the surrounding area, although they ruled out any casualties or injuries among South Korean military personnel as a result of the explosions.

“Our army responded open fire on the area located south of the military demarcation line.”He stated this in reference to the “de facto” border separating two countries that are technically still at war. “We are closely monitoring the actions of the North Korean army (…) in coordination with the United States,” he said.

The destruction of this infrastructure represents for South Korea loss of about 176.8 billion won (about 120 million euros), As the aforementioned agency points out, North Korean authorities have begun “reinforcement work” on these inter-Korean highways.

Both countries are connected by road and rail lines. along the Gyeonggui line, which connects the South Korean border city of Paju with North Korea’s Kaesong and the Donghae Line along the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Already on October 9, North Korean troops They announced their intention to cut these roads “begin the process of strengthening with the creation of strong defensive structures.”

North Korea has cut off land routes between the two Koreas since its leader Kim Jong Un defined inter-Korean relations as “hostile relations between the two countries.” Seoul has since accused Pyongyang of, among other things, planting mines in the area.

In May, North Korean troops They began to dismantle the railway infrastructure on the Donghae Line, in addition to illuminated signs and barriers. Later the depot on the Kengi line was dismantled.

North Korea’s decision now comes amid rising tensions, especially after North Korea sent numerous garbage balloons on the other side of the border. In June, Seoul also resumed propaganda broadcasts over loudspeakers on the border for the first time in six years, as well as live-fire maneuvers near the border, which include joint military maneuvers with the United States.

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Kim also called a security meeting on Monday to consider the alleged South Korean drone incursion into North Korean territoryIt called the issue a “serious provocation” and a “violation of the sovereignty” of North Korea, although Seoul insists there was no such deployment.

North Korean authorities were also increase in the volume of launches of ballistic missiles and other projectiles In recent years, there have been what they call “warning” operations against Seoul, with which it has yet to sign a peace agreement despite the Korean War ending in 1953 with an armistice.

(Europe Press)