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.
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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.
The United Kingdom is considering sweeping new restrictions that could limit or completely block children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, as part of a broader push to improve online safety and reduce excessive screen time among young users.
The proposal, currently under government consultation, is being led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and focuses on addressing concerns over how teenagers interact with platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
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Officials say the move is driven by growing evidence and public concern that algorithm-driven feeds and “endless scrolling” features may be negatively affecting children’s sleep patterns, concentration levels, and overall well-being.
The government is also reviewing whether additional measures such as app curfews and time limits should be introduced.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the consultation has already attracted widespread public input, with tens of thousands of responses from parents, teenagers, and advocacy groups.
She noted that the government is particularly interested in feedback on addictive platform design features and the use of AI tools targeting younger users.
The UK is also studying policies already implemented in other countries. Australia has introduced stricter age-based restrictions, while Greece and Indonesia have also moved toward tighter regulation of children’s access to social media.
Authorities emphasize that no final decision has been made, but the consultation process is expected to shape future legislation on how tech companies operate and how young users are protected online in the digital age.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked global reactions following his remarks about Pope Leo XIV after the Pope’s recent anti-war message calling for peace in conflict-hit regions.
The controversy began after Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong appeal at the Vatican, urging world leaders to end ongoing wars and prioritise dialogue over violenceviolence.
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The pontiff warned against the “idolatry of power” and called for global cooperation to restore peace.
Reacting to the message, Trump told reporters he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “very liberal” and questioning his views on crime and international security.
The U.S. President further criticised the Pope’s stance on global conflicts, suggesting his message overlooks serious security challenges linked to rising geopolitical tensions, including nuclear concerns.
In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump intensified his criticism, accusing the Pope of taking a weak position on foreign policy matters and suggesting political factors influenced his leadership position.
The comments have since triggered widespread debate across political and religious circles, adding to ongoing tensions between Washington and the Vatican over issues such as immigration policy, military action, and global diplomacy.
While both sides have previously denied any formal rift, the latest exchange has renewed global attention on their differing positions regarding war and peace efforts.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that Mohammed Wishah, an Al Jazeera journalist killed in a strike in Gaza on Wednesday, was a Hamas operative “operating under the guise of a journalist.”
According to Israeli forces, Wishah was “a key terrorist in Hamas’ rocket and weapons production headquarters” and had been planning attacks against soldiers in the area.
The military said he used his journalist identity to advance Hamas’ operations against Israel.
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Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based broadcaster, strongly condemned the killing. In a statement, the network described the attack as a “heinous crime of targeting and killing” its correspondent and insisted the strike was deliberate, not accidental.
The channel vowed to pursue “all necessary legal action to prosecute those responsible for the killing of its correspondents and staff in Gaza.”
Media rights organization Reporters Without Borders also condemned the incident, stating that Wishah’s name now joins “more than 220 journalists killed in two and a half years by Israeli forces in Gaza, at least 70 of whom were killed while performing their duties.”
The killing occurred despite a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza that has been in effect since October 2025, highlighting ongoing tensions and frequent accusations of truce violations by both Israel and Hamas.
Al Jazeera listed Wishah among 11 of its journalists killed in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
Past incidents include the killing of Mohammad Salama in August 2025 and the deaths of four Al Jazeera staff and two freelancers outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City earlier that year, prompting widespread condemnation.
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