This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, North Korea made a bold statement by demolishing the joint liaison office in Kaesong, a town on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The building, which was a symbol of the recent détente between the two countries, had been the site of joint efforts between North and South Korean officials.
According to reports, the explosion was heard by South Korean border guards, who then saw smoke rising from the area. The South's Unification Ministry later confirmed that the four-story glass and steel building had been demolished.
The liaison office, which was opened in 2018, was a significant step towards full-time, person-to-person contact between the Koreas. However, no South Korean officials had worked there since January, when the office was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
North Korea's actions come after weeks of acrimony from the North, including a threat to send back troops that had previously been withdrawn from areas near the South Korean border.
Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, had previously warned that the liaison office would be 'completely collapsed' before long.
