Ayobamiji Komolafe 
North Korea’s military has announced its decision to “Permanently shut off and block the southern border” with South Korea.
The North Korea government who made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday cited significant escalation in the already strained inter-Korean relations as reasons for the closure.
This move comes as part of Pyongyang’s broader effort to formalize South Korea’s designation as an enemy state, following a high-level parliamentary meeting earlier this week.
While there was speculation that North Korea would nullify the landmark 1991 inter-Korean agreement during the meeting, state media reports did not confirm such action.
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However, the military’s declaration of a “substantial military step” to cut off all roads and railways connecting the two Koreas further signaled its intention to sever ties with the South.
The statement emphasized plans to fortify the border with “strong defense structures,” marking the culmination of years of deteriorating relations.
Pyongyang has communicated its intentions to US forces stationed in South Korea in an effort to avoid any accidental clashes during the fortification process.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two nations is already one of the most heavily militarized areas in the world, with tensions at their highest in years.
North Korea’s decision comes after months of reported landmine placements and the erection of barriers along the border.
However, these actions have already led to multiple casualties among North Korean soldiers.
In addition, Seoul’s intelligence agencies have observed the demolition of parts of the Donghae Line railway, which once connected the two Koreas.
This further indicates Pyongyang’s intent to permanently sever transportation links.
Experts see this move as the formal confirmation of an ongoing process to isolate South Korea.
Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, noted that the shutdown of transportation routes has been underway for some time and that the announcement is merely making official what has been happening on the ground.
Also, North Korea’s military described the decision as a “self-defensive measure” in response to South Korean military exercises and the presence of US strategic nuclear assets in the region.
As inter-Korean relations continue to plunge to historic lows, this latest development further complicates the possibility of future diplomacy between the two neighbors.
