North Korea’s construction of a 270 kilometer highway along its northern border is nearing completion.

Coincidentally, the stretch of land is also a popular route taken by fleeing defectors who wish to leave the country.

Approximately 10,000 houses were demolished to move forward with the project, but there happens to be an ulterior motive.

“The aim is to prevent people from fleeing the North,” an unidentified source told South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

The North Korean government promised to provide affected families with extra rations of foods along with other incentives, but have yet to do so the source said.

With an ongoing drought North Korea is already projected to see a 20 percent reduction in crop production this year according to Yonhap.

Of North Korea’s 24.6 million people, 70 percent are reported to be affected by food shortages.