South Korea said on Monday it had detected signs of such a situation North Korea is preparing to destroy northern parts of inter-Korean roads that are no longer in use as the rivals are embroiled in rising tensions over North Korea's claim that South Korea flew drones over its territory .
Destroying the roads would be consistent with leader Kim Jong Un's desire to cut ties with South Korea, formally establishing it as his country's archenemy and abandoning the North's long-standing goal of seeking peaceful Korean reunification.
In highly derisive rhetoric, Kim's sister and senior official Kim Yo Jong called the South Korean military “scum” and “mongrels tamed by the Yankees.” She said Monday that “the master of these dogs,” an apparent reference to the United States, also must be held accountable for the alleged drone flights. South Korea and the United States did not immediately respond.
Earlier on Monday, South Korea's military said 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 roads and are working behind them, preparing to blow up the roads,” Lee Sung Joon, spokesman for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a briefing. He added that demolition could start as early as Monday.
Lee said the South Korean military believes North Korea may carry out other provocations, such as a space missile launch, which the UN sees as a covert test of long-range missile technology.
It is unclear how many parts of the roads North Korea will destroy.
In the previous era of inter-Korean détente in the 2000s, the two Koreas reconnected two road routes and two railways across a heavily fortified border. However, their activities were later suspended one by one as North Korea argued over North Korea's nuclear program and other issues.
Last week, North Korea said it would permanently block its border with South Korea and build front-line defense structures to deal with the “confrontational hysteria” of South Korean and American forces. South Korean officials said North Korea had been installing anti-tank barriers and laying mines along the border since the beginning of this year. They said North Korea also planted mines and removed streetlights on sections of inter-Korean roads and removed ties on the north side of railway tracks.
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North Korea accused South Korea of launching drones to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang three times this month and threatened to respond with force if it happened again. South Korea declined to confirm whether it sent the drones, but warned it would severely punish North Korea if the safety of its citizens was threatened.
In a statement on Sunday, the North's Ministry of Defense said the military had ordered artillery and other military units near the border with South Korea “to be fully ready to open fire.” The ministry said the entire territory of South Korea “could turn into a pile of ash” after the North's powerful attack.
North Korea often uses belligerent rhetoric as animosities with rivals escalate. Experts say North Korea is highly unlikely to launch full-scale pre-emptive strikes because its military has an advantage over the combined forces of the U.S. and South Korea.
Koo Byoungsam, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said on Monday that North Korea's accusations over the drone flights were likely intended to create tension to strengthen its internal unity while fueling instability in South Korea. Koo said North Korea cannot get what it wants from South Korea through threats and provocations.
Some observers say anti-Pyongyang activists in South Korea may have sent drones this month, but North Korea says the South Korean government cannot avoid responsibility.
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.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached their highest level in years as North Korea continues a series of provocative missile tests and South Korea and the United States expand their military exercises. Observers say North Korea may conduct major weapons tests ahead of next month's U.S. presidential election to increase its influence in future diplomacy with Americans.
In January, Kim Jong Un ordered a revision of North Korea's constitution to eliminate the goal of peaceful Korean reunification, formally designate South Korea as the country's “immutable principal enemy” and define North Korea's sovereign territorial sphere.
Kim's order shocked many North Korea observers because it was seen as a break with his predecessors' long-cherished dreams of peacefully achieving a unified Korea on the North's terms. Experts say Kim probably wants to weaken South Korea's voice in the regional nuclear dispute and seeks direct contacts with the US. They say Kim probably also hopes to reduce South Korea's cultural influence and strengthen his rule in the country.
