North Korea’s army has announced plans to sever road and railway access to South Korea and fortify its side of the border, citing response to war exercises and US strategic asset visits. The move, described as a self-defensive measure, marks an escalation between the two Koreas, still technically at war since the Korean War armistice in the 1950s. Pyongyang has been aggressively fortifying its side of the border for months. Tensions have been escalating on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea conducting weapons tests and maintaining silence on expected constitutional revisions designating South Korea as an enemy state. While a new defence minister was appointed, the constitutional changes were not mentioned, raising concerns about potential conflict on the peninsula. North Korea’s actions come amidst heightened confrontations and a significant increase in North Korea’s military capabilities, posing a threat to regional stability. The move to cut access to South Korea was symbolic, as cross-border travel and exchanges had already been halted for years. The announcement by North Korea has raised concerns about the potential for accidental clashes and misjudgments between the two neighboring countries, intensifying fears of a return to all-out war on the Korean Peninsula.
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