North Korea escalates tensions as youth enlist for war
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that more than 1.4 million young North Koreans have "expressed a desire" to join the military amidst tensions on the border with South Korea.
The North Korean agency's propaganda statement includes, among other points, a declaration that throughout the country "there is a will to punish the scum that violated the sovereignty and security of our sacred republic."
"In case of war, the Republic of Korea will be destroyed. Since it desires war, we are ready 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 ranks of the North Korean army is a "clear manifestation of the burning hatred and vindictiveness of the representatives of the new generation" who are prepared to use weapons against those seeking to start a war.
The day before, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un accused Seoul of sending drones with propaganda leaflets to North Korea, calling it a military provocation. He demanded "immediate military actions" to protect the nation's sovereignty.
North Korea cut off. Roads and tracks destroyed
The North Korean military then destroyed two sections of roads leading to South Korea. The explosions occurred 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, while the second is located in the eastern part of the country.
The South Korean military did not sustain any injuries and responded with fire south of the demarcation line separating the two Koreas. Seoul believes that the actions of North Korea aim to completely sever inter-Korean land communication and establish defensive structures.
The division of Korea into North Korea and the Republic of Korea occurred in 1945 after Japan's defeat in World War II, as Japan had previously occupied the Korean Peninsula. The US and the USSR initially assumed that the division would be temporary and that Korea would soon reunite. However, the Korean War eventually broke out, which formally solidified the division of the Korean Peninsula into two states along the 38th parallel. Formally, the countries remain at war, as a peace treaty has never been signed between them.
Nevertheless, the authorities of both North Korea and South Korea have declared for many years that their goal is the reunification of the peninsula. However, in December last year, Kim Jong-Un ultimately abandoned this idea. He mentioned that a crisis persists on the peninsula, spiralling out of control due to "provocative military steps" by the United States and South Korea. The word "war" is close to becoming a reality – emphasized the North Korean leader.
