South Korea says North Korea is preparing to destroy roads connecting the two countries

Seoul emphasizes that it is prepared to “respond” to any “provocation” by Pyongyang for the sake of “self-defense”

Oct. 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –

South Korea stated this Monday that North Korean authorities would be preparing to destroy the roads that connect its territory with the neighboring country, after Pyongyang announced that it would proceed to the “permanent” closure of the border, including the cutting of roads. and the fortification of the area.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff have noted that “the North Korean Army has been carrying out activities that are believed to be related to explosions on roads along the Gyeongui and Donghae lines,” before specifying that these detonations could take place from this same Monday.

Thus, the organization’s spokesperson, Lee Sung Jun, highlighted at a press conference that Seoul has detected the installation of anti-deflagration panels on these roads in order to carry out these detonations in the area, as reported by the South Korean agency. Yonhap news.

Lee has stressed that North Korea could carry out other “provocative acts”, including rocket launches, before stressing that South Korea is prepared to “respond” to any “provocation”, in the interests of the “right to freedom”. self-defense”, in the midst of rising tensions on the peninsula.

The North Korean Army General Staff announced last week that it would “completely cut off roads and railways” that could connect with South Korea in order to “fortify relevant areas on the North Korean side with firm defense structures,” in response to what it described as a “serious military situation” on the Korean peninsula.

“The permanent closure by our Army and the blockade of the southern border with the Republic of Korea, the main hostile State and main and invariable enemy, given the current situation is a defense measure to avoid a war and defend the security (of the country),” he said, before revealing that he notified the measure to the United States “to avoid any misinterpretation or accidental conflict regarding the fortification project that will be launched in the southern border area.”

The move comes amid rising tensions, including the launching of hundreds of balloons carrying propaganda and garbage against their respective territories. In June, Seoul also resumed propaganda broadcasts through loudspeakers on the border for the first time in six years, as well as its live-fire maneuvers near the border, while carrying out various joint military maneuvers with the United States, a fact criticized. harshly from North Korea.

North Korean authorities have increased their launches of ballistic missiles and other projectiles, in what they describe as a warning against Seoul’s actions. Both countries are still technically at war because the Korean War (1950-1953) did not end with a peace agreement, but with an armistice, without the parties having so far been able to reach an agreement to officially end the hostilities. .