SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea confirmed Thursday that its recently revised constitution defines South Korea as “a hostile state" for the first time, two days after it blew up front-line road and rail links that once connected the country with the South.

The move fulfils Kim Jong Un's call for a constitutional amendment labeling Seoul the main enemy and follows the destruction of transport links to the South.

North Korea will sever road and railway access to South Korea from Wednesday in a bid to “completely separate” the two countries. Its military said the North would “permanently shut off and block the southern border” and fortify areas on its side.