North Korea Permanently Closes Border with South Korea, Citing “Confrontational Hysteria”

North Korea announced on Wednesday it will permanently close its border with South Korea and erect fortified defense structures along the frontier, The Associated Press reports.

The decision, attributed to “confrontational hysteria” by South Korean and US forces, comes amidst heightened military exercises in the region and North Korea’s recent barrage of weapons tests.

While North Korea refrained from formally declaring South Korea its “principal enemy” and codifying new national borders, as leader Kim Jong Un had previously ordered, the border closure and fortification measures are seen as a significant escalation.

The North Korean military said that “hostile forces are getting ever more reckless” in their actions, citing joint military exercises between South Korea and the US, the deployment of US strategic assets, and what it considers “harsh rhetoric.”

South Korea’s military responded with a warning, vowing to “overwhelmingly punish” any provocations from North Korea. They deemed North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs a threat to peace on the Korean peninsula and expressed their intent to maintain the status quo.

Prior to the announcement, South Korean officials observed North Korea reinforcing its border defenses since April, including the installation of anti-tank barriers and road fortifications. This action was widely interpreted as an attempt to bolster security and prevent defections to South Korea.

The focus now shifts to whether North Korea will follow through with its plans to revise its constitution, potentially laying legal claim to disputed waters off the west coast.

The recent actions have heightened concerns about the potential for conflict on the Korean peninsula, which has experienced multiple naval skirmishes and deadly attacks in the past.