North Korea’s Silence on Road Demolitions Raises Eyebrows
Seoul,October 16 (Yonhap) – North Korea’s media silence surrounding thedemolition of inter-Korean roads has sparked widespread speculation, with analysts questioning Pyongyang’s motives for the unusual lack of publicity.
Despite the dramatic event, whichsaw North Korean troops detonate explosives along the key transportation routes connecting the two Koreas on October 15, neither the country’s domestic nor international media outlets havereported on the incident.
The silence is particularly striking given the North’s usual penchant for using such events for propaganda purposes. In 2020, for instance, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and theruling Workers’ Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, both reported on the demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong within 24 hours of the incident.
This time, however, the KCNA has remainedtight-lipped, and the Rodong Sinmun made no mention of the road destruction in its October 16 edition. Even the North Korean Central Television, which aired its nightly news program on October 15, did not touch upon the event.
The lack of coverage is perplexing, especially considering the North’s prior efforts to amplify tensions with South Korea. Pyongyang had previously accused Seoul of sending drones into its airspace, including the capital Pyongyang, and used this as justification for the road demolitions.
Analysts believe that the North’s silence could be a strategic move aimed at avoiding further escalation of tensions with South Korea. Some speculate that Pyongyang might be seeking to de-escalate the situation and avoid further international condemnation. Others suggest that the North might be seeking to downplay the significance of the event, perhaps to avoid giving the impression of weakness or instability.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korean troops hadplaced barriers along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the Gyeongui and Donghae lines before detonating explosives, effectively severing the roads.
The lack of official commentary from North Korea leaves a void of information and raises more questions than answers. The silence only serves to further fuel speculation about Pyongyang’sintentions and the future of inter-Korean relations.
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