RECLUSIVE North Korea said yesterday it would close its land border with the South from next month, largely putting a stop to the few exchanges that exist between the states divided since the Cold War.
The move follows growing anger in Pyongyang at the hardline approach of the South's conservative government over its nuclear weapons programme. It accused its wealthy neighbour of taking their confrontation "beyond the danger level ".
The little traffic there is across their heavily armed border is the product of agreements during 10 years of left-leaning leaders in Seoul.
Relations between the states have increasingly frayed since February, when conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office pledging to get tough with Pyongyang but offering massive economic aid if it mended its ways.
Last month, North Korea threatened to reduce the South to rubble unless it stopped civic groups from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist state. Analysts say the recent flood of such leaflets had rattled the North's leaders.
"The leaflets are going deeper into the country than before and this has increased concern in North Korea, especially because it comes at a time when there is speculation on (leader) Kim Jong-il's health," one South Korean government source said.
There have been widespread reports that Kim may have suffered a serious stroke.Reuters
The move follows growing anger in Pyongyang at the hardline approach of the South's conservative government over its nuclear weapons programme. It accused its wealthy neighbour of taking their confrontation "beyond the danger level ".
The little traffic there is across their heavily armed border is the product of agreements during 10 years of left-leaning leaders in Seoul.
Relations between the states have increasingly frayed since February, when conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office pledging to get tough with Pyongyang but offering massive economic aid if it mended its ways.
Last month, North Korea threatened to reduce the South to rubble unless it stopped civic groups from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist state. Analysts say the recent flood of such leaflets had rattled the North's leaders.
"The leaflets are going deeper into the country than before and this has increased concern in North Korea, especially because it comes at a time when there is speculation on (leader) Kim Jong-il's health," one South Korean government source said.
There have been widespread reports that Kim may have suffered a serious stroke.Reuters
No comments:
Post a Comment