North Korea is preparing to destroy northern parts of inter-Korean roads, Seoul says

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Monday it has detected signs that North Korea is preparing to destroy the disused northern portions of inter-Korean roads, as the rivals are embroiled in rising tensions over North Korea's claim to destroy South Korea Korea flew Drones over his territory.

The destruction of the roads would be in line with leader Kim Jong Un's push to sever ties with South Korea, officially making it his country's main enemy and abandoning the North's decades-long goal of peaceful unification of Korea.

The South Korean military said Monday it was monitoring various activities in North Korea that appeared to be preparations for road demolition, such as installing screens.

“They have installed screens on the road and are working behind those screens, preparing to blow up the roads,” South Korea's General Staff spokesman Lee Sung Joon said at a briefing. He said demolitions could be carried out as early as Monday.

Lee said the South Korean military believes the North may also try to fire a space rocket, which is considered a banned test of long-range missile technology by the United Nations. Lee said North Korea could carry out unspecified “small provocations” to increase pressure on Seoul.

It is not clear how many parts of the roads North Korea would destroy.

The development comes after North Korea recently accused South Korea of ​​launching drones three times this month to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang and threatened to respond with force if it happened again. South Korea has refused to confirm whether it sent drones but warned it would severely punish North Korea if the safety of its citizens was threatened.

In a statement on Sunday, North Korea's Defense Ministry said the military had ordered artillery and other army units near the border with South Korea to “fully prepare to open fire.” The spokesman said all South Korean territory could be “reduced to rubble” after the North's powerful attack.

North Korea often uses bellicose rhetoric as hostilities with its rivals increase. Experts say it is highly unlikely that North Korea will launch large-scale preemptive attacks because its military is inferior to the combined forces of the United States and South Korea.

Koo Byoungsam, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said on Monday that North Korea's allegations against South Korean drone flights were likely aimed at creating tensions to strengthen its internal unity while stoking instability in South Korea. Koo said North Korea cannot achieve what it wants from South Korea with threats and provocations.

Some observers say anti-Pyongyang activists may have sent drones this month, but North Korea argues that the South Korean government cannot escape responsibility because it must have been aware of such moves.

In 2022, South Korea sent surveillance drones across the border into North Korea after accusing North Korea of ​​flying drones into South Korea for the first time in five years.

Last week, North Korea said it would permanently block its border with South Korea and build frontline defense structures to counter the “confrontation hysteria” of South Korean and U.S. forces. It cited various military exercises in South Korea and the temporary stationing of powerful US military forces in South Korea.

South Korean officials said North Korea had already set up anti-tank barriers, laid mines and reinforced roads on its side of the border since the beginning of the year, likely in a bid to bolster its frontline security posture and prevent its soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula are at their highest in years as North Korea continues to conduct provocative missile tests and South Korea and the United States expand military exercises. Observers say North Korea could conduct extensive weapons tests ahead of next month's U.S. presidential election to increase its influence in future diplomacy with the Americans.

In January, Kim Jong Un ordered a revision of North Korea's constitution to remove the goal of peaceful unification of Korea, officially declare South Korea the country's “immutable main enemy” and define the North's sovereign, territorial sphere.

Kim's order stunned many North Korean observers because it was seen as a break with his predecessors' long-held dreams of peacefully achieving a unified Korea on the North's terms. Experts say Kim is likely aiming to weaken South Korea's voice in the regional nuclear standoff and seek direct deals with the United States. They say Kim also likely hopes to reduce South Korea's cultural influence and strengthen his rule at home.