Korean conflict
On October 15, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff released a video showing North Korea conducting a detonation. Earlier, South Korean officials stated that around noon that day, North Korea had destroyed parts of the Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line, roads connecting the two Koreas, located north of the military demarcation line.
South Korea: Responsibility Entirely with North Korea
The South Korean government expressed on October 15 that the repeated setbacks in inter-Korean relations are entirely the responsibility of North Korea. They strongly condemned the destruction of sections of the Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line, which connect the two Koreas.
The Ministry of Unification pointed out that four years ago, North Korea unilaterally destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office building in Kaesong, citing the launch of propaganda leaflets by South Korean civilian groups as the reason. Now, North Korea has once again destroyed parts of the roads connecting the two countries, which the Ministry described as “truly regrettable.”
North Korea: Evidence of Provocation Secured
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army declared on October 9 that North Korea would completely sever road and rail links with South Korea and begin fortifying defensive facilities.
On October 14, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Minister of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, stated that the recent drone infiltration incident into Pyongyang was orchestrated by the South Korean military. She warned that if the sovereignty of a nuclear-armed nation is violated by forces “tamed by the U.S.,” the responsibility would ultimately fall on the U.S.
On October 15, Kim Yo-jong reiterated that North Korea has concrete evidence proving the South Korean military’s role as the mastermind behind the drone infiltration into Pyongyang. She warned that the provocateurs would pay the price for their actions.
