On October 15, North Korea detonated sections of the Gyeongui and Donghae railroads that connect the two Koreas, resulting in a cloud of smoke and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In response, South Korean troops initiated retaliatory fire south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to assert their right to self-defense, and they broadcast warnings to North Korea to cease such actions immediately.
The blasts occurred just 10 meters (approximately 32.8 feet) from the MDL, and South Korea’s military officials stated that the North acted without prior notification, which is a clear violation of the armistice agreement. In retaliation, South Korean forces used heavy machine guns and grenade launchers to fire dozens of rounds near the blast sites, located about 100 meters (around 328 feet) south of the MDL.
According to officials from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea had excavated dozens of tunnels along the two railroads and placed a significant amount of explosives—estimated to be several tons—resulting in extensive damage. However, the actual scale of destruction was reportedly less than anticipated, suggesting that North Korea intended merely to demonstrate its capability to sever the routes.
The Gyeongui Line connects South Korea’s western border city of Paju with North Korea’s Kaesong and allows direct access from Seoul to Pyongyang, while the Donghae Line runs along the eastern coast. On October 9, North Korea’s military had announced a complete shutdown of land transportation between the two Koreas to strengthen its defense posture, targeting vital routes that include the railroads and access roads in the Joint Security Area (JSA).
The South Korean Ministry of Unification stated that the Gyeongui and Donghae railroads were key collaborative projects established following the inter-Korean summit in 2000. The South Korean government had provided materials and equipment worth $132.9 million in accordance with North Korea’s request. The statement asserted that North Korea remains obligated to repay the loans and is entirely responsible for the recent explosions.
The statement also highlighted that four years ago, North Korea destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office after accusing South Korean defector groups of distributing anti-Pyongyang leaflets, marking a troubling pattern of regression in relations.
Tensions have been escalating, with North Korea recently accusing South Korea of deploying drones over Pyongyang carrying “provocative rumors and nonsense.” North Korea warned that any further sightings of South Korean drones would be considered an act of war, subsequently placing border forces on alert to shoot down any incoming South Korean drones.
According to North Korean state media, leader Kim Jong Un convened a National Security Council meeting on October 14, during which officials reported on the “serious provocations” from the “enemy,” leading Kim to instruct the initiation of “immediate military actions.”
The South Korean military has preliminarily denied that any drones were dispatched by the government, leading to speculation that they may have been released by South Korean civic groups that have a history of floating propaganda balloons into the North.
In light of the rising tensions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia and North Korea had signed a treaty in June that includes provisions for mutual assistance in the event of aggression. He noted that the treaty signifies an intention to deepen strategic cooperation, particularly in security.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning commented that the escalating situation on the Korean Peninsula goes against the common interests of all parties involved and emphasized the urgent need to prevent further escalation.
