UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, ADDS BACKGROUND, CHANGES HEADER, LEDE
By Islamuddin Sajid and Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) - North Korea blew up sections of two inter-Korean roads on Tuesday, cutting off key land routes to South Korea and triggering a military response from Seoul as tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to escalate.
The divided Koreas are connected by these key routes—the Gyeongui Line, which links South Korea's western city of Paju to North Korea's Kaesong, and the Donghae Line along the eastern coast.
Last week, North Korea had in advance warned the US forces stationed in South Korea about its intentions to avoid miscalculation.
The explosions, which took place just 10 meters north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) dividing the peninsula, affected sections of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads.
South Korea's military reported that the detonation along the Gyeongui line occurred at 11.49 am (0249GMT), followed by an explosion on the Donghae line at 12.01 pm (0301GMT), impacting land routes “measuring tens of meters.”
South Korea "strongly" condemned Pyongyang's move, calling it a "very abnormal" act.
The latest spike in tensions follows North Korea's accusation that South Korea flew unmanned drones over Pyongyang earlier this month.
In response, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was briefed on the situation by defense and security officials on Monday, during which he ordered “immediate military actions.”
Kim outlined "immediate military action" plans and provided directives on strengthening the nation’s "war deterrent" and exercising "the right to self-defense to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and interests."
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun initially denied any military drone incursions, while the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff later indicated they could not confirm the validity of North Korea’s claims.
In response to the rising tensions, authorities in South Korea’s Gyeonggi province have designated 11 points along the border with North Korea as “danger zones” to restrict the distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.
- North Korea security meeting 'unprecedented'
In the unusual move, Kim Jong Un chaired a “consultative meeting on national defense and security” with key military and intelligence officials, marking a shift from North Korea’s typical decision-making process.
The meeting format, described as “unprecedented,” took place in response to the alleged drone flights over Pyongyang.
North Korean spy chief Ri Chang-ho reportedly briefed attendees on what he described as “the enemy's serious provocation that violated the sovereignty” of North Korea.
Korean People’s Army (KPA) General Staff Chief Ri Yong-gil then outlined potential military "counteraction plans." Also in attendance were Defense Minister No Kwang Chol, ruling party secretary Jo Chun Ryong, State Security Minister Ri Chang Dae, and senior commanders from the KPA’s artillery, detection, and electronic warfare bureaus.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry commented on the unusual nature of the meeting, noting it was the “first to be held in this format.”
A ministry official explained, “Although the Central Military Commission typically serves as the main decision-making body, North Korea convened a meeting in a new format without revealing any details. Therefore, I believe it is important to withhold judgment on North Korea’s intentions and continue observing the situation closely.”
The latest escalation comes amid deteriorating relations on the Korean Peninsula, with both Pyongyang and Seoul having nearly abandoned all existing bilateral pacts.
North Korea has also recently amended its constitution, labeling South Korea as its “primary enemy.”
The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leading the US to station approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea.
The UN Command, established on July 24, 1950, continues to oversee armistice conditions following the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950.
Meanwhile, Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong on Tuesday warned Seoul of "dear price."
"We secured clear evidence that the ROK (South Korea) military gangsters are the main culprit of the hostile provocation of violating the sovereignty" of North Korea by intruding into the sky over Pyongyang, said Kim in a statement carried by state media.
*Islamuddin Sajid in Islamabad contributed to this story