North Korea blows up inter-Korean road, South Korea fires back

Several northern road and railway sections connecting to South Korea were bombed at noon, and North Korea is carrying out additional operations with heavy equipment, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on October 15.

The South Korean military suffered no casualties and responded by opening fire south of the military demarcation line between the two countries.

"The South Korean military is closely monitoring North Korean military activities and maintaining a firm readiness posture amid enhanced surveillance under South Korea-US cooperation," the JCS report said.

South and North Korea are connected by road and rail along the Gyeongui Line, which connects the South Korean western border city of Paju with North Korea's Kaesong, and the Donghae Line along the east coast.

X Video shows explosions that occurred at Gyeongui and Donghae streets on October 15. Source: JCS

The explosions came after North Korea last week announced plans to "completely separate" its territory from South Korea by completely cutting off inter-Korean roads and railways, saying it had informed the US military of the move to "prevent any misjudgment and unintended conflict".

South Korea warned on October 14 that North Korea was preparing for an explosion. South Korea's JCS said North Korea was seen installing bombs and barricades along the border and was conducting additional operations with heavy equipment.

The move comes amid heightened inter-Korean tensions and after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un designated South Korea and North Korea as "hostile states" late last year, with North Korea taking steps to destroy inter-Korean land routes.

Since then, North Korea has dismantled streetlights and planted landmines along its side of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads, as well as deployed troops to build anti-tank barriers and reinforce barbed wire fences inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.

A road in South Korea's Goseong border county leading to North Korea. Photo: Yonhap

Tensions have risen after North Korea accused South Korea on October 11 of flying drones over Pyongyang three times this month. Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader's sister, warned the following day of a "terrible disaster" if South Korean drones flew over the North Korean capital again.

South Korea neither confirmed nor denied the claim and warned that North Korea would see the "end of its regime" if it caused any harm to the South Korean people.

Hoai Phuong (according to Yonhap, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/video-trieu-tien-cho-no-tung-tuyen-duong-bien-gioi-han-quoc-no-sung-dap-tra-post316900.html