North Korea Constructing Border Wall, Satellite Images Reveal
New satellite images reveal that North Korea is constructing segments of what appears to be a border wall near its boundary with South Korea. According to BBC Verify’s analysis, there has also been land clearing within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which experts suggest could breach the long-standing truce with South Korea.
The DMZ, a 4km (2.5 miles) wide buffer zone, separates North and South Korea, which remain technically at war since no peace treaty was ever signed. Each side of the DMZ is controlled by the respective nations.
Experts describe this recent construction as “unusual,” particularly in light of the rising tensions between the two Koreas. Shreyas Reddy, a correspondent for the specialist site NK News based in Seoul, speculates that North Korea may be aiming to bolster its military presence and fortifications along the border.
Satellite Images Reveal Construction
BBC Verify commissioned high-resolution satellite images of a 7km stretch along the border, revealing at least three sections where barriers have been erected near the DMZ. These sections cover approximately 1km near the eastern end of the border. The possibility of additional barriers along other stretches of the border cannot be ruled out.
The exact timeline of the construction remains unclear due to the lack of earlier high-resolution images. However, these structures were not visible in a November 2023 image.
Expert Analysis
Dr. Uk Yang, a military and defense expert at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, notes that this appears to be the first instance of North Korea constructing a barrier designed to separate areas. In the 1990s, North Korea built anti-tank walls to deter tank advances in the event of war. The recently constructed walls, standing 2-3 meters high, seem different in purpose and design from the anti-tank walls.
Dr. Yang adds that the shape and design of these new barriers suggest they are intended to divide areas rather than just serve as obstacles for tanks.
Land Clearance in the DMZ
The satellite images also show evidence of land clearing within the North Korean side of the DMZ. A newly created access road is visible at the eastern end of the boundary. The precise northern boundary of the DMZ has been mapped based on BBC’s research, despite slight variations in available maps. All versions confirm that the land clearance has occurred within the DMZ.
An official from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated that the military has identified ongoing activities related to the “reinforcement of tactical roads, the laying of mines, and the clearing of wasteland.”
Prof. Kil Joo Ban from Korea University suggests that the land clearing could serve both military and non-military purposes, such as establishing observatory posts to monitor South Korean military activities and spotting defectors attempting to cross into South Korea.
Implications for the Armistice
Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, notes that constructing structures within the DMZ is unusual and could violate the armistice agreement without prior consultation. The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, pledging that neither side would “execute any hostile act within, from, or against the demilitarized zone,” but no final peace settlement was achieved.
Despite the stated goal of reunification by North Korean leaders, this ambition seemed to change in early 2024 when Kim Jong Un announced that North Korea would no longer pursue reunification. Experts consider this a significant policy shift, particularly as Mr. Kim labeled South Korea a “principal enemy” at the beginning of the year.
Broader Context
Since this announcement, North Korea has started removing symbols of unity between the two countries, such as demolishing monuments and erasing references to reunification from government websites.
Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo of Kings College London suggests that North Korea’s construction of these barriers signals an end to any pretense of seeking reunification. Dr. Edward Howell, a Korean Peninsula researcher at Oxford, adds that North Korea is showing no interest in negotiating with the United States or South Korea and has dismissed recent overtures from Japan. With North Korea’s strengthening ties with Russia, increased provocations towards South Korea may be on the horizon.
