North Korea labels South 'hostile', ends talk of reunification
The North Korean constitution clearly defines South Korea as a "hostile" state, Pyongyang has reported. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that the destruction of communication routes linking the two Korean states marked the end of the "reckless idea of reunification." The leader warned that in the event of a violation of the North's sovereignty, physical force would be used.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) referred to the constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in a dispatch reporting on the blowing up of the northern side communication routes connecting the two Korean states.
"This is an inevitable and legitimate measure taken in keeping with the requirement of the DPRK Constitution which clearly defines the ROK as a hostile state, and due to the serious security circumstances running to the unpredictable brink of war owing to the grave political and military provocations of the hostile forces," the KCNA stated in an English-language article.
Citing the North Korean Ministry of Defence, the agency reported that 55-metre sections of two pairs of highway and railway tracks were blown up. These are the routes along the Gyeongui line, which connects the city of Paju in the South to Kaesong in the North, and the Donghae line, which runs along the eastern coast of the peninsula.
Last week, KCNA reported that during the 11th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), it was unanimously decided to amend and supplement parts of the country's socialist constitution, although details were not disclosed. On 15 January, Kim Jong Un called in a speech before the SPA for South Korea to be recognised in the constitution as the "main enemy" and to remove terms like "peaceful reunification" from the fundamental law.
In line with the new policy direction, the "remnants of the past era," such as the "glaring" Reunification Monument in Pyongyang, have been dismantled. Institutions related to promoting inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation have also been closed.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that the destruction of communication routes linking the two Korean states marked the end of the "unreasonable idea of reunification," the North Korean agency KCNA reported.
Kim considered the blowing up of 55-metre sections of two roads and railway lines leading to the border with South Korea as the "means not only the physical closure but also the end of the evil relationship with Seoul which persistently lasted century after century... and unreasonable idea of reunification."
It also constitutes the final declaration that if the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is violated by the Republic of Korea, the hostile country, physical forces will be used without hesitation - the leader threatened.
It's been this bad for decades
Tensions between the two neighbours have been escalating since last year when, following Pyongyang's launch of a spy satellite, both sides announced that the agreement signed in 2018 aimed at easing military tensions is no longer valid. According to observers, relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been the worst in decades.
In recent days, North Korea has sharply intensified its hostile rhetoric, accusing the South of violating its airspace by flying drones over the capital. Pyongyang announced retaliatory actions, not ruling out the use of nuclear weapons.
North and South Korea have formally been at war for over 70 years since the armed conflict from 1950-1953 ended with the signing of an armistice, not a peace treaty.
