North Korea rallies youth amid rising border tensions
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that over 1.4 million young North Koreans have "expressed a strong desire" to enlist in the military amidst escalating tensions at the border with South Korea.
The North Korean agency's propaganda statement declares that throughout the nation, "The DPRK is full of the will to annihilate the ROK who violated its sacred sovereignty and security."
"If a war breaks out, the ROK will be wiped off the map. As it wants a war, we are willing to put an end to its existence," the agency emphasizes.
Combat readiness of eight brigades. Pyongyang's order
The agency also notes that the eagerness of young people to join the North Korean army is "an eruption of the hatred and retaliatory spirit of the younger generation", ready to wield weapons against those who wish to initiate conflict.
The day prior, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un accused Seoul of sending drones with propaganda leaflets into North Korea, labeling it a military provocation. He demanded "immediate military actions" to safeguard the country's sovereignty.
North Korea cut off. Roads and tracks destroyed
The North Korean military subsequently blew up two sections of roads leading to South Korea. These explosions took place on North Korean territory along the Gyeongsong and Donghae lines: the first connects the city of Kaesong in the north with South Korean Paju in the west, and the second is situated in the eastern part of the country.
The South Korean military sustained no injuries and responded with fire south of the demarcation line that separates the two Koreas. Seoul believes North Korea's actions aim to sever inter-Korean land communication completely and to construct defensive structures.
The division of Korea into North Korea and the Republic of Korea happened in 1945 following Japan's defeat in World War II, after their occupation of the Korean Peninsula. The US and the USSR initially presumed the split would be temporary, anticipating Korea's reunification soon. However, the Korean War broke out, formally cementing the division of the Korean Peninsula into two states along the 38th parallel. Technically, the countries remain at war, as a peace treaty has never been signed.
Despite this, the authorities of North Korea and South Korea have long stated their goal of reunifying the peninsula. However, last December, Kim Jong-Un ultimately abandoned this idea, citing that a crisis situation exists on the peninsula, spiraling out of control due to "provocative" military steps by the United States and South Korea. The word 'war' has become a realistic reality and not an abstract concept, emphasized the North Korean leader.
