North Korea bombs railway highway AP- ‘Symbolic’ expression of Kim Jong Un’s anger
In a recent interview, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, accused the South Korean government of instigating drone activity over North Korean airspace. She issued a stern warning that if drones were to approach Pyongyang again, Seoul would face a “terrible disaster.” On October 15, North Korea took a drastic measure by destroying the railroads connecting the two Koreas, signaling a complete break in relations. According to the Associated Press, experts believe that Kim Jong-un is unlikely to launch a preemptive large-scale attack on South Korea, as the combined military strength of the U.S. and South Korea poses a significant threat to Pyongyang’s survival. This bombing serves more as a symbolic gesture of North Korea’s growing anger toward the conservative regime in South Korea.
Historically, North Korea has a track record of demolishing its own facilities to send political messages. In 2020, in retaliation for balloon launches from South Korea, North Korea blew up a South Korean-built office building at the border. During the early stages of nuclear diplomacy with Washington in 2018, the North destroyed tunnels at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and dismantled some facilities. In 2008, while negotiating disarmament in exchange for aid, North Korea destroyed a cooling tower at one of its main nuclear sites.
The recent destruction of railway tracks funded by South Korea echoes an order given by Kim Jong-un earlier this year to abandon the goal of peaceful unification, redesignating South Korea as an “unchanging primary enemy.” This shift has surprised Western nations, as it marks a significant departure from the long-held aspirations of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
Experts suggest that Kim Jong-un’s actions are aimed at diminishing South Korea’s influence in the regional nuclear standoff, seeking instead to engage directly with Washington while hoping to lessen South Korea’s cultural impact.
North Korea has recently made several provocative statements, aligning with expert opinions. They have accused South Korean drones of dropping leaflets over Pyongyang on three occasions this month alone, warning that further incidents would be met with military responses. Kim Yo-jong also claimed to have evidence that the South Korean “military thugs” orchestrated the drone flights, threatening that Seoul would “pay a heavy price.”
North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong-un directed a plan for “immediate military action” during a national security meeting on October 14. The North Korean military has stated that its frontline troops are prepared to take action, vowing to turn South Korea into “ashes.”
The early 2000s saw a thaw in relations between the two Koreas as they reestablished two railroads along the border, but this collaboration stalled over disputes regarding Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. Last week, North Korea announced a permanent closure of its border with South Korea, installing anti-tank obstacles, laying mines, and removing street lights along the way, in addition to conducting a series of missile tests in recent years.
