North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has referred to South Korea as “a foreign country and an apparent hostile country,” warning that physical force will be used if the North’s sovereignty is violated, state media reported Friday.

The remarks were made during his inspection of the headquarters of the 2nd Corps of the Korean People’s Army on Thursday, two days after Pyongyang blew up roads and railways connected to South Korea that were once considered key symbols of inter-Korean reconciliation, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

“He stressed that our army should keep in mind once again the stark fact that the ROK is a foreign country and an apparent hostile country,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Kim stressed that blocking roads and railways not only means the physical closure but also the end of the evil relationship with Seoul and the complete removal of the unreasonable idea of reunification.

Source: Qatar News Agency