SEOUL, South Korea — Recent commercial satellite imagery has disclosed that North Korea has constructed at least two substantial trenches crossing roads and railroads on its heavily fortified boundary with South Korea. This development follows the demolition of northern segments of cross-border routes earlier in the month, heightening tensions between the neighboring nations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been increasingly demonstrating his country’s advancing nuclear arsenal and missile technology while allegedly supplying munitions and personnel to aid President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. Kim has declared his intention to break ties and abandon the longstanding aspiration of reconciliation with South Korea, particularly in light of the current conservative administration’s firm stance against North Korea’s nuclear initiatives.
Satellite images captured on Wednesday by Planet Labs PBC showed one trench intersecting a road and rail line in the western area of the Demilitarized Zone marking the separation of the Koreas. Work on these trenches seems to have commenced shortly after North Korea conducted deliberate demolitions of a road proximity to Kaesong, a border city in western North Korea, and a joint road-rail segment near the eastern frontier on October 15. Observations by Planet Labs, following a four-day period of cloud cover, revealed the initial formation of the trenches around October 17.
The western trench is located approximately 1.7 kilometers (or about 1 mile) from Dorasan Station, which was the last operating station on the South Korean side linked to a now-closed factory complex in Kaesong. These factories were symbolic of a previous era of better relations between North and South Korea, operating collaboratively until their closure by Seoul in 2016 after North Korea’s nuclear test.
At the trench site, various vehicles were noted, including what appeared to be excavation machinery. Similar trench construction activities were also identified at another crossing along the eastern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula, cutting across a road just before a gate marking the North Korean border within the Demilitarized Zone.
Analysts from the North Korea-focused platform 38North, who were the first to report on the trench discoveries, indicated that the trench construction began right after the road and rail sections were destroyed. They assessed the western trench to be around 125 meters (approximately 410 feet) in length and roughly seven meters (about 23 feet) wide, with sizable piles of earth on either side.
The analysts noted, “The purpose of the trench and surrounding earth remains unclear, beyond its use as some form of blockade that aims to disrupt transportation routes. The dirt heaps might serve as part of the obstruction or could simply be a temporary result of ongoing construction efforts.” The ongoing presence of several trucks at the site suggests that construction is still underway.
The trench at the eastern crossing is estimated to be slightly longer at about 150 meters (or roughly 492 feet), with earth and land clearing observable only on one side.
On Thursday, North Korea conducted a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, marking its first such launch in nearly a year. This action may be a step towards developing a military capability that could pose a legitimate threat to the U.S. mainland. Kim Jong Un, who supervised the launch, described it as “a fitting military measure” to demonstrate North Korea’s determination to counter perceived threats to its security from adversaries, as reported by state media.