WW3 fears escalate as South Korea responds to Kim Jong-un blowing up roads with gunfire

Seoul reported that it believed North Korea would blow the roads up on Monday, a prediction that came to pass when the North detonated on Tuesday (October 15).

Troops from the north were caught on camera ahead of the blast, with Pyongyang sending a clear message it has little interest in negotiation with the South.

Warning shots were fired near the border by the South as a “retaliatory” measure, its joint chiefs of staff said.

According to the Guardian, it said: “North Korean has detonated parts of the Gyeongui and Donghae roads north of the military demarcation line”. At the time of writing it is not known if the North responded to the fired shots. 

Pyongyang said it was aiming to seal off the roads permanently ahead of anticipated joint military exercises between the South and the US.

Kim declared the South his ’principle enemy’ (Image: KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image)

The move to blow up the roads also came following the North’s allegations that the South had conducted drone operations, in a move that Pyongyang regards as military provocation that could develop into war.

Kim’s sister Kim Yo-jong said the regime was in possession of “clear proof” that the South was behind the drones.

According to the KCNA News agency, she said: “If sovereignty of a nuclear weapons state … by mongrels tamed by Yankees, the master of those dogs should be held accountable for this”.