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North Korea has informed the US-led United Nations Command (UNC) of its intention to construct fortifications along the inter-Korean border, according to a Yonhap news report on Monday that cited South Korea's Defense Ministry.
This is the first such notification in over six months.
Pyongyang told the multinational body overseeing activities at the border that it plans to restart the building of barriers and barbed wire fences within its portion of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
A South Korean Defense Ministry official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the development while a representative from the UNC declined to comment on its communications with North Korea’s military.
The ministry noted that the notification could potentially be seen as a “meaningful” gesture toward reducing tensions between the two Koreas, though it cautioned that it is too early to draw any conclusions.
The UNC stated that prior notifications from Pyongyang are generally “helpful” in reducing the chances of misunderstandings or misjudgments.
Since last April, North Korea has deployed troops to the DMZ to plant mines, erect apparent anti-tank barriers and reinforce roads.
In October, Pyongyang unveiled that it had informed the UNC it would cut off all roads and railways connected to South Korea and build defense structures before blowing up cross-border roads once seen as symbols of inter-Korean reconciliation.
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