N.Korea appears preparing for explosions on S.Korea-linked roads

SEOUL – North Korea appears to be preparing to carry out explosions at roads connected to South Korea as early as Monday, the South’s military said, just days after Pyongyang vowed to cut off all inter-Korean roads and railways.

On Wednesday, the North’s Korean People’s Army (KPA) announced the measure that will “completely separate” North Korea’s territory from that of South Korea and said it sent a telephone message to the United States military in the South to “prevent any misjudgment and accidental conflict over the fortification project.”

“Following an announcement by the KPA on Oct. 9, the North Korean military has been carrying out activities assumed to be linked to explosions on the roads along the Gyeongui and Donghae lines,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said at a regular briefing that the military has detected the North installing covers along the roads to make preparations for explosions.

“It is possible for (North Korea’s explosions) to take place as early as today,” he said.

Lee said North Korea could carry out the explosions along the inter-Korean roads or other provocative acts, such as launching a space projectile, to change the course of the recent situation with the South.

“If North Korea undertakes a provocation, we will strongly retaliate in terms of our right to self defense,” he said.

The JCS said it is closely monitoring such activities that are taking place north of the Military Demarcation Line and seeking safety measures for troops and South Korean people.