Cut All Roads And Railroads To South Korea, North Korean Military: Prevent War And Maintain Security

The railroad and highway lines in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of the second Korean border. (Wikimedia Commons/Kussy)

JAKARTA - North Korea's military said on Wednesday that cutting off all roads and train ID cards connected to South Korea was a step to defend oneself to prevent war while maintaining the country's security.

The North Korean military announced it would cut off all roads and railroads connected to South Korea and strengthen its borders.

In a statement reported by North Korean state news agency KCNA, the General Staff of the North Korean People's Army (KPA) announced a project would begin to cut off the roads and railroads connecting South Korea, as well as strengthen the relevant areas by its side with a strong defense structure.

"For our soldiers, permanently closing and blocking the southern border with ROK, our main enemy country and our non-variant main enemy, in the current situation it is an act of self-defense to prevent war and keep the DPRK safe," the statement read.

ROK is the Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea. While the DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

North Korea also said it had notified the United States military in South Korea of the plan at 9:45 a.m., with the aim of avoiding misunderstandings or unintentional conflicts.

Pyongyang stressed that the move was a "firmer and stronger act" in response to what it described as an "acute military situation" on the Korean Peninsula, citing South Korean military exercises near the border and Washington's frequent deployment of strategic assets in the region, as well as threats made by "warmen" to end the North Korean regime.

Meanwhile, Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute for National Unity said Wednesday's announcement to cut off roads and railway lines did not signal any significant changes in logistics operations, as similar construction efforts have been going on for months.

Since June, North Korean soldiers have been seen digging and building roads in the northern region of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), which sparked speculation Pyongyang may be building a long wall or defense building near the border.

Meanwhile, Yang Moo-jin, president of North Korea University of Studies, assessed that the latest announcement was aimed at formalizing North Korea's ongoing projects near the border.

"The disconnection of the railway line and strengthening of land borders is an expansion of the activities they have carried out. However, the statement issued by the KPA General Staff, which is equivalent to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), is an official confirmation to the outside world about ongoing operations and upcoming operations," explained Yang.

He also stressed that officials in Seoul must monitor carefully whether Kim's regime hints at potential changes at its maritime borders, which could be the next step after strengthening land borders.

Separately, South Korea's JCS said Pyongyang's decision to cut off the railway line was "not something to watch out for."

"North Korea's recent statement on road closures, after previously trying to weaken the ceasefire regime in DMZ, is nothing more than a desperate measure stemming from the instability of the failed Kim Jong-un regime, and this will only lead to more severe isolation," he said in a statement.