North Korea announced on Wednesday that it would permanently close its border with South Korea and create a front-line defense system to deal with “confrontation hysteria” between South Korean and U.S. militaries, but did not officially list South Korea as its main enemy. No announcement was made regarding the expected constitutional amendments. Codifying new borders.
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The move is likely a pressure tactic, but it is unclear how it will affect relations with South Korea, as cross-border travel and exchanges have been suspended for years.
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said the North Korean military would “completely cut off” the “roads and railways” connected to South Korea and “strengthen relevant areas of our country with strong defense structures.” .
The North Korean military claimed that this measure was a “self-defense measure to prevent war and protect North Korea’s security.” The report stated that “hostile forces have become increasingly reckless in conflict hysteria.” It cited what it called various military exercises in South Korea, the deployment of U.S. strategic assets, and harsh comments from rivals.
In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, photo provided by the North Korean government, Choi Ryong-hye, chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee, speaks at the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Agency, Associated Press)
South Korea’s military said late Wednesday that it would not tolerate any attempt by North Korea to change the status quo. South Korea said it would “overwhelmingly punish” North Korea if it engages in provocation. South Korea’s military said in a statement that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean officials said earlier that North Korea had already built more anti-tank barriers and closed roads along the border since April to strengthen its front-line security posture and prevent soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea. He said that reinforcements were being made. South Korea’s Unification Ministry said in a report to Congress on Tuesday that North Korea is removing light sleepers on and near the north side of the cross-border railway and placing land mines along the border.
KCNA announced on Wednesday that the Supreme People’s Assembly convened for two days this week to revise the legal age for North Koreans to work and participate in elections. However, this meeting led to the Kim Jong-un Workers’ Party in January ordering constitutional amendments that removed the goal of peaceful Korean reunification, officially designated South Korea as the “immutable main enemy,” and defined North Korea’s sovereign power. He did not say whether he had acted on the commissioner’s order. territorial area.
Outside attention has centered on whether North Korea will make new legal claims in waters off its west coast currently controlled by South Korea. The sparsely marked western maritime border is the site of three bloody naval skirmishes and two deadly attacks blamed on North Korea in the past 25 years.
Some experts point out that North Korea may have delayed amending the constitution, while others speculate that North Korea may have amended the constitution without announcing it due to sensitivity.
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Kim’s order surprised many North Korea watchers because it was seen as shattering his predecessor’s long-held dream of achieving a unified Korea on North Korea’s terms. Experts say Kim is likely aiming to weaken South Korea’s voice in regional nuclear conflicts and seek direct deals with the United States. It is also likely that Mr. Kim wants to weaken South Korea’s cultural influence and strengthen his control domestically.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are at their highest point in years, with North Korea continuing to conduct provocative weapons tests and South Korea and the United States expanding military exercises. KCNA reported that observers say North Korea tested a long-range artillery system on Tuesday that poses a direct threat to the South Korean capital, Seoul, just an hour’s drive from the border.
