The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced that it will completely cut off roads and railways connected to the Republic of Korea (ROK) beginning Wednesday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, in what Pyongyang believes to be a "self-defensive measure."

KCNA quoted the Korean People's Army (KPA) General Staff as saying that, given the precarious situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the daily military exercises in the ROK region near the DPRK's southern border, the frequent presence of U.S. strategic nuclear assets, and the repeated talk about the "end of the regime" in the DPRK, Pyongyang has made the decision. 

 "To this end, a project will be launched first on October 9 to completely cut off roads and railways connected to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and fortify the relevant areas of our side with strong defense structures," the report said.

The acute military situation on the peninsula requires the DPRK armed forces to take stronger measures to effectively defend national security, it added.

(Cover: South Korean army soldiers patrol along its border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on July 19, 2024. /CFP)