North Korea blows up joint liaison office with South, raising tensions

KAESONG (REUTERS): North Korea today (Tuesday) has blown up an office, set up to foster better ties with South Korea, near its border town of Kaesong.

According to details, the move comes just hours after North Korea renewed threats of military action at the Korean border. The site was opened in 2018 to help the Koreas – officially in a state of war – to communicate.

North Korea’s news agency reported that the liaison office, which had been closed since January over fears of the novel coronavirus, was tragically ruined with a terrific explosion.

South Korea’s defence ministry released a black-and-white surveillance video that showed a large blast that appeared to bring down the four-storey structure.

Footage of North Korea destroying the inter-Korean Liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea this morning after North Korea stopped communication with South Korea #NorthKorea pic.twitter.com/lVR17Rky5f

— CNW (@ConflictsW) June 16, 2020

The explosion also appeared to cause a partial collapse of a neighbouring 15-storey high-rise that had served as a residential facility for South Korean officials who staffed the liaison office.

In this regard, South Korea’s National Security Council warned that it would respond strongly if North Korea continues to worsen the situation.

Deputy national security advisor Kim You-Geun further said, “The destruction of the office broke the expectations of all people who hope for the development of inter-Korean relations and lasting peace on the peninsula.”

“We’re making clear that the North is entirely responsible for all the consequences this might cause,” he added.

Tensions between North and South Korea have been escalating for weeks, prompted by defector groups in the South sending propaganda across the border.

In recent days, North Korea has made several threats against South Korea and threatened to destroy the office if defector groups there continue with their campaign to send propaganda leaflets and other material across the border.

Earlier on Saturday, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, warned that South Korea will soon witness a tragic scene of the useless North-South liaison office being completely collapsed.