Why is North Korea fortifying its border with South Korea?

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOkay, I just woke up. Why is North Korea putting fences on its border with South Korea?

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe short version: North Korea is building a permanent fortified border, and South Korea says it breaks the armistice and wants it stopped.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentPermanent. That's a strong word for a border.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIt is. The Guardian reports that North Korea has been adding mines, barbed wire fences, anti-tank barriers and other fortifications along the line.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIs this new?

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe building began in April twenty twenty-four, running through the demilitarised zone that divides the two sides. What's changed is the attention.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd the mine incident? Something happened there, right?

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNorth Korea denies any responsibility and calls it a self-staged farce.

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   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorKim Yo Jong warned of no mercy for armed gangsters if South Korean warning shots caused actual harm.

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    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentArmed gangsters bereft of reason. That's a statement with a lot of reach.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIt's the language of a government that wants to be heard in Seoul, and everywhere else.

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    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo who does this actually affect?

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMostly soldiers and border communities on both sides, and the armistice itself.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIt has held the peace here for decades, and I assume both governments say they want it respected.

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    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentEveryone wants it respected. Then the fences go up.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorKim Yo Jong says the work will eliminate the danger of a conflict at the border. Analysts argue the opposite.

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    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo that's two readings of the same fence.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorPrecisely. A wall is called protection by the people building it and provocation by the people next to it.

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThat is true in every capital I have worked in.

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    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd the south's position?

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe defence ministry calls it an armistice violation and has demanded it stop.

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    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWhat should people watch for next?

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    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNorth Korea says it will resume propaganda broadcasts along the border this month, according to ABC News. Loudspeakers are the next test.

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    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the broadcasts are coming back. That's a rerun nobody asked for.

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    Gloria Vance · World News Anchorthe north is building a permanent barrier, the south calls it a violation, and I bet each says the other started it.

26. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentNobody got left on read. They're all replying in barbed wire.