North Korea Builds Extensive Anti-Tank Barriers Along DMZ Border

According to a South Korean opposition lawmaker, North Korea has significantly fortified its side of the inter-Korean border by building an extensive network of anti-tank barriers. This development, based on intelligence and satellite imagery, points to a continued hardening of military positions within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

Yu Yong-weon, a legislator from the People Power Party, disclosed that the construction consists of four barrier clusters stretching a total of roughly 10 kilometers north of the Military Demarcation Line. He described the structures as a clear symbol of Pyongyang's adversarial stance, stating, "North Korea's anti-tank barriers are symbolic structures demonstrating its 'two hostile states' policy," and called for the South Korean military to update its defense plans accordingly.

This physical fortification follows a series of political and military actions by North Korea that have escalated tensions. In a significant move last October, the North amended its constitution to formally label South Korea as its "primary foe" and a "hostile state," fundamentally shifting the framework of their relations.

Further compounding the situation, North Korea in 2023 formally scrapped a key 2018 military agreement that had established buffer zones and prohibited hostile acts along the border. The abandonment of this pact effectively removed safeguards against military clashes and allowed both sides to resume training and operations directly at the frontier, contributing to the current volatile security environment.