This liaison office was inaugurated in 2016 with a bang
The ongoing crisis between the two Koreas has intensified. Within hours of threatening to send troops to the demilitarized zone of the border, the joint liaison office with the South was blown up. Korea.
The South Korean government confirmed an explosion just before 3pm local time.
In 2016, a joint liaison office was set up on the North Korean border to increase communication between South and North Korea. The office has been vacant since the coronavirus infection began.
Earlier, North Korea threatened to send troops to the "demilitarized zone" on the border between the two Koreas. The threat comes in response to propaganda campaigns by North Korean expatriate groups living in South Korea.
Expatriate groups often send anti-North leaflets to the country using balloons and drones. Tensions are running high between the two countries over this.
On Saturday, Kim Yoo-jung, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said she had already asked the army to prepare.
In response to the threat, South Korea's defense minister said today that they were monitoring the movement of North Korean troops together with the U.S. military.
That's what North Korea said
The border between North and South Korea is divided by a 'demilitarized zone'. Which is called a civilian neutral zone. This division took place after the 1950 Korean War.
On Tuesday, North Korea's military said it was working on a plan to send troops to civilian areas.
The country's military says it is "extremely vigilant" and is ready to act "as soon as possible".
The statement came from North Korea's military headquarters after Kim Yoo-jung threatened South Korea on Saturday
Kim Yoo-jung, who is very powerful in terms of political status in North Korea, said, "I think it's definitely time for a break with the South Korean authorities."
He concludes his statement by saying, "Garbage must be thrown in the dustbin."
The BBC's Laura Becker in Seoul says the South has taken the threat very seriously. Intelligence activities have been increased in the demilitarized zone.
The country's president has called on everyone to calm down and told North Korea to stay out of the conflict.
Last week, Pyongyang cut off all communication with Seoul. The country has also cut off the hotline for communication between the leaders of the two countries. Many emigrants from North Korea live in South Korea.
They often send negative propaganda leaflets about North Korea in balloons across the border.
Many times South Korean news and dramas have also been sent on radio and USB sticks.
Earlier, South Korea tried to stop such activities. They have tried to tell these groups that their actions could jeopardize peace on the border. South Korean President Moon Jae-in himself has called on North Korea to return to dialogue.
The way the leaflet was sent went so far
In 2016, South Korea promised to end its anti-North Korean campaign as part of an agreement between the two heads of state.
They are also angry at South Korea for not objecting to the tough sanctions imposed by the United States on North Korea. So the issue is not limited to the trivial matter of the leaflet.
Kim Jong Un met with Donald Trump in the demilitarized zone.
This BBC correspondent thinks that these are the reasons why North Korea wants to punish South Korea. Perhaps the future is creating a situation to take advantage of the increased dialogue.
What is a 'demilitarized zone'?
After the end of the Korean War, in 1953, a civilian neutral zone was created on the border between the two countries. Its location in this region is very important for historical reasons.
There have been reports of North Korean military personnel fleeing through the region to the south. The two sides exchanged fire as peace talks were held here.
For many in South Korea, the region is a tourist destination. It was here that the two Korean leaders shook hands. Kim Jong-un met with US President Donald Trump here.
