North Korea has announced its decision to permanently sever all road and railway connections to South Korea starting Wednesday, citing the need to "completely separate" the two countries. The Korean People's Army (KPA) declared this move as a "self-defensive measure for inhibiting war" in response to joint military exercises in the South and the presence of U.S. nuclear assets in the region.

The KPA's statement, published by state media outlet KCNA, described the situation on the Korean peninsula as "acute" and claimed that stronger measures were necessary to ensure North Korea's national security.

While largely symbolic — as the routes between North and South Korea have seen little use in recent years — the decision marks a significant escalation in tensions, which are already at their highest in years. The North has incrementally dismantled its southern connections over the past year.

This announcement follows a series of hostile actions, including missile tests and provocations such as the sending of balloons filled with trash across the border. It also comes in the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s January declaration that he no longer seeks reunification with the South. Kim had called for removing references to "peaceful reunification" from North Korea’s constitution, signaling a shift in the regime’s stance on the issue.

Although there were expectations that the North might formalize these changes during the recent Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) session, no constitutional revisions were publicized. Some analysts believe Pyongyang could be waiting for the outcome of the U.S. presidential election before deciding on any significant policy shifts.

Despite the lack of clarity on whether the SPA session influenced the decision to cut transport links, this latest move underscores the growing divide between the two Koreas, raising concerns over the stability of the region.