North Korea has announced that it will permanently block its border with South Korea and strengthen its frontline defense posture to deal with “confrontational hysteria” from South Korean and US forces.
However, it did not announce an expected constitutional revision to formally designate South Korea as its principal enemy and codify new national borders.
While the actions were most likely a form of pressure, it’s unclear how they will influence relations with South Korea, given that cross-border travel and exchanges have been suspended for years.
According to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, the military will “completely cut off roads and railways” to South Korea and “fortify the relevant areas of our side with strong defense structures.”
The North’s military called its steps a “self-defensive measure for inhibiting war and defending the security” of North Korea.
It said “the hostile forces are getting ever more reckless in their confrontational hysteria.”
It cited what it called various war exercises in South Korea, the deployment of US strategic assets and its rivals’ harsh rhetoric.
The border since April in a likely attempt to boost its frontline security posture and prevent its soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea.
KCNA earlier on Wednesday said the Supreme People’s Assembly met for two days this week to amend the legal ages of North Koreans for working and participating in elections.
Some observers believe North Korea may have postponed the constitutional reform, while others believe it revised the constitution without publicizing it due to its sensitivity.
Many North Korea watchers were taken aback by Kim’s edict, which was interpreted as breaking away from his predecessors’ long-held aim of attaining a unified Korea on the North’s terms.
According to experts, Kim’s goal is to reduce South Korea’s influence in the regional nuclear standoff and pursue direct relations with the United States.
They believe Kim also wants to reduce South Korean cultural influence and strengthen his power at home.
