North Korea suddenly announced- -Permanently cutting off and blocking- the southern border with South Korea

On October 9, the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army announced that North Korea would indefinitely cut all railway and roadway links with South Korea starting that day. In addition, they revealed plans to strengthen their defense facilities.

Could you elaborate on why this drastic measure is being taken? The statement from the military indicated that heightened “aggressive war exercises” by South Korea and the United States, along with ongoing threats to the North Korean government, have created an increasingly tense military atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula. They highlighted the need for the Korean People’s Army to implement stronger countermeasures in order to effectively protect national security.

What does this mean for North Korea? The General Staff underscored that substantial military actions would be taken to fully separate North Korea’s sovereignty from South Korean territory, beginning with the construction efforts that started on October 9. These efforts will include severing all existing connections and erecting fortified defensive structures.

Is this closure permanent? The military clarified that the permanent closure and blockade of the southern border with South Korea is a defensive strategy designed to avert war and maintain national security. To minimize the risk of misunderstandings and accidental confrontations, the North Korean military also reached out to U.S. military officials by phone at 9:45 AM local time that same day.