It has been confirmed that North Korea has dismantled a significant number of streetlights on both sides of the East Sea overland route, where landmines were installed at the end of last year.
According to military authorities on the 18th, South Korean military surveillance assets captured images of the North Korean military dismantling dozens of streetlights along the East Sea overland route at the end of last month.
The military authorities are closely monitoring the North Korean military’s movements, anticipating that North Korea may further dismantle the remaining streetlights soon.
This road has served as a corridor connecting the North and South, with vehicles for Mt. Kumgang tourism and family reunions passing through in the past.
However, like the Gyeongui overland route, this route became challenging to use for transit after North Korea laid landmines at the end of last year.
This appears to be a follow-up measure taken by North Korea amid heightened military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula and the breakdown of North-South relations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in his policy speech at the 10th session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly on January 15, “We must rigorously implement step-by-step measures to separate all North-South linkage conditions in the border areas thoroughly.”
North Korea’s dismantling of the streetlights on the East Sea overland route can also be seen as a message that there will be no resumption of family reunions.
A military official stated, “Our military has confirmed that North Korea recently dismantled some facilities on the East Sea overland route. We are closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean military.”