North Korea building border ‘wall’, satellite images reveal

New satellite images have revealed that North Korea is constructing a wall near its border with South Korea. The construction is taking place within the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a 4km wide buffer zone that has separated the two countries since the end of the Korean War in 1953. The DMZ is divided between North and South Korea, with each side controlling their respective areas. The recent construction of the wall has raised concerns about potential violations of the truce between the two nations. Experts believe that North Korea's military presence and fortifications along the border are being strengthened through this activity. The satellite images, which cover a 7km stretch of the border, show at least three sections where barriers have been erected near the DMZ, covering a total of about 1km near the eastern end of the border. The exact date of construction is unclear due to the lack of previous high-resolution imagery in the area. However, the structures were not visible in an image captured in November 2023. Dr. Uk Yang, a military and defense expert at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, stated that the recent construction is different from the anti-tank walls set up by North Korea in the 1990s. The new walls are 2-3m high and appear to be intended to divide areas rather than just deter tanks. The satellite images also reveal land clearance within the North Korean side of the DMZ. A newly created access road is visible in the latest satellite imagery of the eastern end of the boundary. The land clearance is believed to be intended for both military and non-military purposes, including the establishment of observatory posts to monitor military activities in South Korea and to spot defectors attempting to cross the border. The recent construction and land clearance have raised concerns about potential violations of the armistice that ended the Korean War. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's announcement at the beginning of 2024 that his country would no longer pursue reunification with South Korea has been seen as a significant policy change. The removal of symbols representing the unity of the two countries and the labeling of South Korea as a 'principal enemy' by Mr. Kim have further indicated a shift in North Korea's stance. Experts believe that the recent actions align with North Korea's reluctance to negotiate with the United States, South Korea, and Japan, and predict that inter-Korean provocations may increase this year.