(2nd LD) N. Korea blows up parts of northern side of inter-Korean roads: JCS

North Korea blew up parts of its roads connected to South Korea on Tuesday, the military said, after vowing to cut off the roads and railways once seen as symbols of inter-Korean cooperation. "The North Korean military conducted detonations, assumed to be aimed at cutting off the Gyeongui and Donghae roads, at around noon and is carrying out additional activities using heavy equipment," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a text message to reporters. The JCS said the South's military did not suffer any damage and that it responded by firing shots south of the Military Demarcation Line. "The military is closely monitoring the North Korean military's activities and maintains a firm readiness posture amid strengthened surveillance under South Korea-U.S. cooperation," it added. Last week, the North's military announced a plan to "completely separate" North Korea's territory from South Korea, saying it had informed the U.S. military of the move to "prevent any misjudgment and accidental conflict." The Kor eas are connected by roads and railways along the Gyeongui Line, which connects the South's western border city of Paju to the North's Kaesong, and the Donghae Line along the east coast Source: Yonhap News Agency