North Korea has been spotted conducting explosion work suspected to be part of fortification efforts in an area near the city of Kaesong, north of Ganghwado Island, NHK reported on October 12.

NHK stated that it filmed as many as 50 people mobilized along the riverbank on October 7 in an area south of Kaesong, separated from Ganghwado Island by the Jogang River, carrying out successive explosion operations.

A resident of Ganghwado in their 60s told NHK, "The explosion work seems to be progressing slowly from east to west. Because the distance is so close, the booming sound is tremendously loud. I've lived here for over 60 years, but this is the first time I've seen anything like this."

NHK analyzed that the series of explosions taking place north of Ganghwado appears to be part of a plan by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to sever roads and railways connecting to South Korea and "fortify" the area with structures, following his definition of inter-Korean relations as "two hostile states" in 2023.

The Korean Central News Agency reported in October 2024 that the General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army had announced plans for construction work to completely cut off roads and railways connected to South Korea and fortify them with solid defensive structures.

(File Photo: Yonhap News)