Recent commercial satellite images have revealed that North Korea has dug at least two large trenches across roads and rail lines on its heavily armed border with South Korea. This development comes after North Korea blew up sections of cross-border routes earlier this month, escalating tensions between the two Koreas.
The satellite images captured by Planet Labs PBC show a trench cut across a road and a rail line in the western part of the Demilitarized Zone between the Koreas. The first signs of these trenches appeared shortly after North Korea staged demolitions of key infrastructure near the border.
One of the trenches is located 1.7 kilometers west of Dorasan Station, the last station on the South Korean side that used to connect to a now-closed factory complex in Kaesong. The other trench is observed at a crossing along the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.
Analysts at the North Korea-focused website 38North noted that the trenches are likely intended to sever transportation links between the two countries. The western trench is estimated to be about 125 meters long and 7 meters wide, with large piles of dirt on either side. The purpose of these trenches remains unclear, but they appear to be a form of blockade.
North Korea's recent actions, including the trench digging and a test-fire of an intercontinental ballistic missile, indicate a heightened state of military readiness. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized the country's resolve to respond to perceived threats to its security.
These developments come amid strained relations between North and South Korea, with Kim Jong Un signaling a shift away from reconciliation efforts. The international community is closely monitoring the situation as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
