"'Kwang' Sound and Black Smoke... Residents of Daeseongdong, the Northernmost Village, on Edge Thinking War Broke Out"

'Loud Bang' Heard and Elementary School Windows Shake
Dozens of Military and Civilian Vehicles Evacuate Village
Cheong: "North Korea Will Respond Strongly if Situation Worsens"

On the afternoon of the 16th, when loud explosions and smoke were observed in the Kaesong Industrial Complex area, black smoke was seen rising in the direction of the Kaesong Industrial Complex from Daeseong-dong Freedom Village in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] On the 16th, as North Korea blew up the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, the residents of Daeseong-dong village near the Kaesong Industrial Complex are experiencing heightened anxiety. At the time of the explosion, loud noises and vibrations were felt in the village, and the villagers evacuated to their homes under military protection.

The 37-second black-and-white footage released by the Blue House, received from the Ministry of National Defense, shows the liaison office building engulfed in a large explosion around 6 seconds in, followed by white smoke rising into the sky. The building collapses completely by around 34 seconds, shaking violently to the point where its shape is unrecognizable.

Since part of the outer wall of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Comprehensive Support Center building next to the liaison office collapsed and the windows shattered, the explosion is presumed to have been powerful.

The explosion was reportedly faintly observed even in residential areas near the Demilitarized Zone. According to an MBC report, residents of Jayuui Village in Daeseong-dong, Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, located 4 km from the Kaesong Industrial Complex, witnessed loud noises and black smoke. At an elementary school near the village, windows trembled noticeably due to the vibrations.

One resident said, "The explosion was very loud," and explained, "At first, I thought our village was being shelled."

Another resident said, "With a 'bang' explosion sound, smoke rose into the sky," adding, "Soldiers came and told my younger sibling, 'You have to leave.' I was so scared I almost died, thinking war had broken out."

An official from a nearby elementary school said, "With a 'thud' sound, the windows rattled," and added, "I think it shook about twice."

On the afternoon of the 16th, the Kaesong Joint Liaison Office building is being blown up. / Photo by Yonhap News

Military forces were dispatched immediately after the explosion, and students and residents returned home under military protection. Students and staff who came from outside the village evacuated by boarding dozens of military and civilian vehicles. The evacuation procession stretched long along the road outside the village that day.

According to the broadcast, Daeseong-dong residents are currently either evacuating outside the village or staying at home, watching the situation with anxious hearts.

According to military authorities, North Korea blew up the liaison office at around 2:49 p.m. that day. The Blue House immediately convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee following the incident. The members shared information about North Korea’s destruction of the liaison office and discussed future countermeasures.

After the meeting, Kim Yoo-geun, NSC Secretary-General, held a press conference at the Blue House, stating, "The government strongly regrets North Korea’s unilateral destruction of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office building established under the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration," and criticized, "North Korea’s destruction of the liaison office is an act that betrays the expectations of all who wish for the development of inter-Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula."

He continued, "The government clearly states that all responsibility arising from this lies entirely with the North," and emphasized, "If the North continues to take actions that worsen the situation, we sternly warn that we will respond strongly."

Meanwhile, military authorities are strengthening surveillance and readiness against sudden military situations near the Military Demarcation Line following the liaison office explosion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.