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DPRK to close land border with ROK

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-13-2008 09:24

The DPRK's military has been authorized to cut off all land borders with the Republic of Korea in December.

The ROK government expressed regret over Pyongyang's decision to close the border.They are seeking the resumption of inter-Korean talks.

The DPRK's military has been authorized to cut off all land borders with the Republic of Korea in December.(CCTV.com)
The DPRK's military has been authorized to cut off
all land borders with the Republic of Korea in 
December.(CCTV.com)

The DPRK military delivered a message to the ROK saying it decided to restrict and cut off all the overland passages through the inter-Korean border.

The restriction begins December 1. The military criticized the ROK's confrontations against the DPRK.

The ROK Unification Ministry spokesman expressed regret over the DPRK's decision.

Kim Ho-Nyeon, Spokesman, of ROK Unification Ministry, said, "We truly wish to continue to develop the South-North relationship, based on the idea of mutual benefit and common prosperity. We want to continue having conversations and cooperation rather than taking actions which could possibly lead to setbacks in the South-North relationship in any situation."

The ROK side looks forward to holding dialogues between the two governments. They believe the decision to close the inter-Korean border will have a negative impact on inter-Korea relations.

The DPRK's official news agency, KCNA, quoted a military official who said the ROK authorities are failing to live up to declarations signed in the past.

KCNA didn't clarify if the closure would affect day-to-day tourism to Kaesong city or the operation of the north-south cooperative industrial complex there. Kaesong city lies just north of the border.

Relations between the two countries have frayed since February when conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office pledging to get tough with Pyongyang. The DPRK later responded by threatening to cut off all contact.

 

Editor:Zhang Pengfei