Noon on the Korean Peninsula. In the North, there are strong explosions on several roads and railways connecting to the South, where South Korean soldiers stationed on their side of the demilitarized zone (DMZ), the heavily militarized de facto border equipped with landmines, begin to fire warning shots.
Another day in one of the hottest spots on the planet.
The regime of Kim Jong-un decided this Tuesday to demolish at least two main roads connecting to South Korea. It is a symbolic gesture, with no relevance because the roads were already closed, but it carries a lot of weight as another example of how Pyongyang is fulfilling its promise to completely isolate itself from democratic Korea, making it clear that there is no room for negotiations to ease tensions between the two territories.
Soldiers at the border posts responded by firing artillery into the air, and Seoul shared several videos showing explosions on roads that were previously blocked by black anti-tank barriers and more landmines.
Relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest level in decades. Earlier this year, Pyongyang announced the dissolution of several state agencies working for "dialogue and reunification" with the South. In other words, it removed two key instruments essential for maintaining a somewhat fluid conversation with Seoul.
Another significant turn was the introduction in the North Korean Constitution of labeling South Korea as the "number one hostile state", breaking an old commitment of the Kim dynasty to achieve the unification of the entire peninsula. The two Koreas technically remain at war since 1953 when the conflict between them was halted by an armistice, not a peace treaty.
This year, North Korean authorities also demolished a 30-meter-high concrete monument symbolizing hope for reconciliation between the North and the South. The monument was erected in 2000 after a historic inter-Korean summit.
According to North Korean state media, Kim Jong-un convened a national security meeting on Monday with the country's top officials and military officers. "He set the direction of immediate military action and indicated important tasks to be fulfilled in the war deterrence operation and the exercise of the right to legitimate defense," reported the KCNA agency.
This meeting came after the regime accused the South Korean army of flying drones over its capital to drop leaflets against the Kim government and moving more troops to its border.