N. Korea vows to close Korea border

Published: Nov. 11, 2008 at 11:39 PM

PYONGYANG, North Korea, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- North Korea Wednesday threatened to close its overland border with South Korea Dec. 1 after accusing the South of not abiding by inter-Korean agreements.

In a message appearing in the official Korean Central News Agency, the Communist country's military said it will "strictly restrict and cut off all the overland passages" effective Dec. 1, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

The threatened action will affect the two countries' Military Demarcation Line.

The North Korean military said it has decided to take the "actual crucial measure" to control the overland passages as the first punitive step against the South.

North Korea has been conducting a relentless campaign against South Korea's new conservative president, Lee Myung-bak, accusing him and his pro-U.S. administration of not abiding by the terms of two summit agreements, the last of which was reached last year by Lee's predecessor to continue the North-South dialogue.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in only a truce, leaving the two sides still technically in a state of war. Relations between the two sides have deteriorated lately after showing improvement in previous years.

In a commentary Tuesday, the Communist party's main organ, Rodong Sinmun, said: "The deterioration of the inter-Korean relations is entirely attributable to traitor Lee Myung Bak and his treacherous 'policy toward the north.'"

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
UPI Thoroughbred Racing Roundup (16 min)
Scientists ID gene-diet obesity linkage (22 min)
Drug may help restore damaged nerves (30 min)
Crosswinds builder caught in crossfire (34 min)
Namath dog famous -- and dangerous (57 min)
Doctors review hemicorporectomy procedures
Markets put on early charge Monday
fark
If you're going to hide a sex offender at your home, maybe you shouldn't work for the State Police...
Budget cuts, office closures, and staff reductions may mean that visits to the DMV won't provide...
Not news: Transit police officer forces passenger's head into a reinforced glass window. News: Window...
The coolest CG portraits you'll see today
Authorities decry assault on 12-year-old California boy as a result of "Kick A Ginger Day" internet...
Vatican hosts conference on extrasolar life, highlights need for that whole warp-drive thing