On October 15, North Korea detonated sections of the roads connecting the two Koreas, according to a report from the Korean Central News Agency. The South Korean military has confirmed that they fired back from south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

Earlier on October 9, North Korea announced a “complete severing” of road and rail connections at the border. By October 14, the South Korean military indicated that North Korea appeared ready to carry out explosions on the Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line, which connect the two Koreas.

“In the latest footage released by the South Korean military, we see North Korea conducting controlled demolitions of the roads and railways previously used to link the two countries,” said Mike Valerio, a CNN reporter.

Lee Seung-jun, a spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in South Korea, stated at a routine press conference, “The demolition operations could potentially occur today.” He also issued a stern warning: “If North Korea takes any provocative action, South Korea will respond firmly in self-defense.”

The Gyeongui Line connects the South Korean border city of Paju with North Korea’s Kaesong, while the Donghae Line runs along the eastern coast.

The JCS reported that on October 15, North Korea had detonated the north-south connecting roads of the Gyeongui and Donghae lines. They communicated via text message to defense reporters, noting that North Korea had blown up sections north of the MDL around noon and emphasized, “Our military is strengthening monitoring and vigilance.”

Meanwhile, a photograph taken on October 14 showed North Korean soldiers stationed at a border observation tower, underscoring the heightened tensions in the area.