South Korea Condemns North Korea’s Destruction of Inter-Korean Roads as “Very Abnormal”

SEOUL: South Korea's Unification Ministry issued a strong condemnation Tuesday after North Korea detonated parts of the key inter-Korean roads, describing the act as a severe violation of an existing agreement and labeling it "very abnormal." According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry stated that the explosions occurred around noon on Tuesday, targeting parts of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads north of the inter-Korean border. This act was noted as a continuation of North Korea's aggressive actions, reminiscent of the 2020 destruction of the joint liaison office in the North's border city of Kaesong. The statement from the Unification Ministry highlighted the significance of the destroyed roads and railways, including the Gyeongui Line, which connects the South's western border city of Paju to the North's Kaesong, and the Donghae Line along the east coast. The ministry emphasized that these connections were constructed with a South Korean loan of US$133 million, requested by North Korea, which still carri es the obligation of repayment. The ministry's release further stressed, "North Korea's explosion of the northern part of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads is a clear violation of an inter-Korean agreement and a very abnormal act. We strongly condemn the North's move. All responsibilities related to the explosion of the inter-Korean land routes lie on North Korea."