North Korea Cuts Ties with South and Fortifies Border

North Korea has severed ties with the South, citing self-defense and war deterrence.

### North Korea Cuts Ties with South: Fortification Measures and Constitutional Amendments
* 🚧 North Korea has officially announced the **complete severance of roads and railways** connecting to South Korea, effective immediately.
* 🔒 The country will also undertake fortification work aimed at **fully blocking its southern border**, citing this as a **self-defensive measure for war deterrence**.
* ⚔ The General Staff of the Korean People's Army labeled South Korea as the "**primary hostile country**" and an "**unchanging adversary**," emphasizing the need for these measures.
* 📞 In an effort to prevent accidental clashes, North Korea notified the United States of its actions around **9:45 AM today**, linking the measures to **military training in South Korea** and **U.S. strategic deployments**.
* 📜 During the recent Supreme People's Assembly, amendments to the constitution were made, yet there was **no mention of removing clauses related to territory or unification**.
* 🗳 Notably, the voting age was raised from **16 to 17**, and the eligibility for voting was increased from **17 to 18 years**, reflecting changes in **political engagement**.
* 🕵 Analysts suggest that North Korea may be **moderating its stance** on the constitutionalization of the two-state theory, adjusting the **timing of these announcements**.

- (Anchor) Hello, everyone. This is SBS News. North Korea has announced that it will completely sever the roads and railways connecting to the South and will undertake fortification work to fully block the border. In the recent Supreme People's Assembly, the constitution was amended, but there was no mention of the removal of expressions related to territory or unification. The first news report is by reporter Jeong Hye-kyung. - (Reporter) North Korea has stated through its state media that it will completely sever the roads and railways connecting to the South starting today. It also announced that it will carry out fortification work to completely block the southern border. The General Staff of the Korean People's Army claimed in a statement that permanently blocking the southern border, which is adjacent to South Korea, is a self-defensive measure for war deterrence and the protection of the Republic's safety. They reiterated that South Korea is the primary hostile country and an unchanging adversary.

To prevent accidental clashes during the recent fortification offensive, a telephone notification was sent to the United States around 9:45 AM today. The North Korean military explained that this action was a strong measure for safety, citing military training taking place in South Korea and the deployment of U.S. strategic assets. Earlier, during the Supreme People's Assembly held from the 7th to the 8th, North Korea announced some amendments to its constitution but did not mention the incorporation of territorial clauses directed by Kim Jong-un in January or the removal of expressions related to unification. There are analyses suggesting that North Korea may have adjusted the timing to moderate its stance on the constitutionalization of the two-state theory. In this Supreme People's Assembly, the voting age was raised from 16 to 17, and the eligibility for voting was increased from 17 to 18 years.

북 "남측 연결 도로·철도 끊을 것"…대한민국 '불변의 주적' 언급 / SBS

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North Korea's Complete Severance from the South

North Korea has announced the complete severance of roads and railways connecting to the South, starting today.

The country will also undertake fortification work to fully block the southern border, citing self-defense and war deterrence.

The General Staff of the Korean People's Army reiterated that South Korea is the primary hostile country and an unchanging adversary.

North Korea's Recent Actions and Constitutional Amendments

North Korea sent a telephone notification to the U.

for safety during a fortification offensive, citing military training in South Korea and U.

The recent Supreme People's Assembly announced constitutional amendments, raising the voting age and increasing eligibility for voting, but did not address territorial clauses or unification expressions.

Analysts suggest the timing of the announcements may indicate a moderation of North Korea's stance on the two-state theory.