North Korea blew up roads connecting it to South Korea, escalating tensions.
The news was announced by the Joint Chiefs of Staff Command in Seoul. The move, announced days ago, is a further sign of growing tension between Seoul and Pyongyang.
The routes blown up by the North Korean military were previously used for cross-border trade with South Korea. Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea's military fired several shots in response to the North's blasts that destroyed parts of two important inter-Korean roads on its territory.
?????????????SEOUL ( @CNN ) — South Korean military releases new video of North Korea blowing up 2 roads / railways that used to connect the Koreas.
— Mike Valerio (@ValerioCNN) October 15, 2024
CNN Story: https://t.co/VXH8iZVrcd pic.twitter.com/x8wF2JhfS6
There is tension not only on earth, but also in the sky. Communist Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a high-level national security meeting to assess and draw up a plan for "immediate military action" in the dispute with Seoul over drone flights.
Pyongyang has accused South Korea of violating the airspace 3 times in order to release propaganda leaflets against the dictatorial regime. Among the participants in the security meeting was the head of the army and the minister of defense.
Meanwhile, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, said that there is "clear evidence" of the involvement of the South's soldiers in the launch of drones in Pyongyang. It threatens Seoul that it will pay a high price for those actions.