International News
North Korea Shuts Border With S’Korea, Declares Neighbour ‘Principal Enemy’
In a significant military move, North Korea announced on Wednesday its decision to “permanently shut off and block the southern border” with South Korea.
The action, which has been communicated to the United States military to avoid accidental clashes, marks a further escalation in inter-Korean tensions.
In a statement, Pyongyang outlined plans to cut off roads and railways that could have facilitated future travel between the two nations.
Read Also: Japan’s New PM, Ishiba, Dissolves Parliament Ahead Of Election
The border between North and South Korea, already one of the most heavily militarized in the world, will now be further fortified with defense structures.
Though North Korea labeled the decision a “major military step,” analysts suggest it continues a long-standing process.
Over recent months, Pyongyang has increasingly isolated itself, closing agencies dedicated to reunification and declaring South Korea its “principal enemy.”
The announcement coincides with the appointment of No Chol as North Korea’s new defense chief, replacing Kang Nam.
Notably absent from state media reports, however, was any mention of North Korea formally nullifying a 1991 inter-Korean agreement, an action anticipated by experts during a parliamentary meeting that concluded on Tuesday.
The agreement, signed during a period of relative détente, aimed to reduce military tensions between the two countries.
The North Korean army revealed that it had informed U.S. forces early Wednesday to avoid misunderstandings as it moves forward with the fortification project along the southern border.
Despite the tight security measures at the border, breaches have still occurred, with a North Korean crossing into the South in August, and ongoing construction of barriers and landmines reported by South Korea.
In July, Seoul reported that Pyongyang had spent months laying landmines and erecting barriers, turning areas of the fortified border into an uninhabitable wasteland.
June saw further casualties among North Korean soldiers working on border reinforcement, with multiple deaths resulting from landmine explosions.
Meanwhile, observers in Seoul noted the gradual demolition of parts of the Donghae Line railway, which once connected the two Koreas.
Analysts like Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, interpreted the destruction as a deliberate severance of ties.
Wednesday’s announcement, Yang said, was “official confirmation” of the regime’s broader strategy.
North Korea’s military justified the move as a “self-defensive measure” in response to ongoing South Korean war exercises and visits by U.S. strategic nuclear assets.
Despite escalating rhetoric, no formal changes were made regarding the North’s stance on South Korea during this week’s parliamentary meeting.
Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, suggested that North Korea may be holding off on further decisions regarding Seoul until after the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Adding to the complex geopolitical landscape, Seoul’s defense chief hinted earlier this week that North Korean soldiers may be fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
Some troops are believed to have been killed, with more expected to be deployed.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
The war involving the United States, Israel and Iran intensified on its fourth day Tuesday, with fresh explosions reported in Tehran, missile interceptions over Jerusalem, and rising tensions spreading across Lebanon and Gulf states.
AFP journalists in Tehran reported loud blasts across several parts of the Iranian capital, though officials did not immediately confirm the exact targets.
RELATED NEWS: Tension in Lagos as IMN Protests ‘Assassination’ of Iran’s Khamenei
The conflict began over the weekend after coordinated US and Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region.
Iran Appeals to UN
Iran called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene and halt the war. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the council had a responsibility to act, insisting there were no legal obstacles preventing immediate action.
Oil Surges as Hormuz Disrupted
Global oil prices spiked amid fears of supply disruption, particularly as the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a crucial oil shipping route — was effectively closed.
Brent crude rose more than eight percent to $85.12 per barrel, its highest level since mid-2024. Meanwhile, precious metals fell sharply, with gold dropping over four percent and silver plunging more than 12 percent as investors shifted toward energy and the US dollar.
Iran Issues Fresh Threats
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned of intensified attacks on US forces and Israeli targets.
A spokesman vowed that “continuous punitive attacks” would follow, declaring that the “gates of hell” would open against both nations.
Israeli Troops Advance in Lebanon
Israeli ground forces reportedly advanced into areas near Kfar Kila and the Khiam plains along the Lebanon border.
Israel said the move was aimed at creating a buffer zone to protect its northern communities.
The escalation has displaced at least 30,000 people in Lebanon, according to the UN refugee agency.
Nuclear Site Damaged
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran’s Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant sustained recent damage to entrance buildings at its underground facility. However, the agency said no radiological consequences were expected.
Gulf Capitals, US Embassy Hit
Explosions were also reported in Manama and Doha as Iranian strikes continued into a fourth day.
In the UAE, drone debris sparked a fire in an oil zone in Fujairah, though authorities said the blaze was contained.
Two drones reportedly struck the US embassy in Riyadh, causing a fire. Saudi officials condemned the attack as unjustified.
Tech Infrastructure Targeted
US tech giant Amazon confirmed that two of its data centres in the UAE were directly hit by drones, disrupting cloud services in parts of the Middle East. A nearby facility in Bahrain was also damaged.
Global Reactions
US President Donald Trump criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over disagreements on the use of British military bases, saying relations were “not like they used to be.”
France deployed Rafale fighter jets to protect its bases in the UAE, while China urged all sides to ensure safety in the Strait of Hormuz and called for an immediate ceasefire.
Iran has called on the United Nations Security Council to urgently intervene and halt the ongoing war involving the Islamic Republic, Israel and the United States.
Speaking during a weekly foreign ministry briefing on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the global body has both the authority and responsibility to act in order to prevent further escalation of hostilities.
SEE ALSO: US, Israel Wipe Out Iran’s Top Military Brass as War Enters Third Day
“The United Nations Security Council has a duty… if it wishes, it can certainly act, because there is no obstacle to its action except its own will,” Baqaei stated.
His remarks come amid rising tensions and continued military exchanges that have heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.
Iran maintains that international institutions must step in decisively to prevent further loss of life and instability across the Middle East.
Tehran’s appeal places renewed pressure on the Security Council’s five permanent members, whose divisions have often stalled unified action in past conflicts involving major global powers.
Analyst say any meaningful intervention would require consensus among key stakeholders, including Washington and its allies.
The war has drawn global concern, with several countries calling for restraint and diplomatic engagement to avoid further deterioration of security in the region.
Fuel Price Shock: Nigerians May Soon Pay ₦1,500 Per Litre – Marketers Warn
Political Earthquake in Zamfara as Gov Lawal Dumps PDP for APC
Court Pushes Malami, Son’s Terrorism Financing Trial to April 15
African Club Football Gets Major Financial Boost as CAF Hikes Prize Money
Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
Global Crisis: Attacks on Schools Skyrocket 166% – UN Sounds Alarm on Children’s Safety
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.
Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your content seem to be running off the screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Thanks
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my website thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
I simply could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I really loved the usual information an individual supply to your visitors? Is gonna be back frequently to check out new posts
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100 positive. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hello there, You have performed a great job. I will definitely digg it and in my view recommend to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this website.
Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.