North Korean General Kim Yong-chol makes the announcement threatening an end to dialogue between the two countries. Gains in tourism and trade, and deals reached at the inter-Korean summit of 2000 and 2007 at risk. Increased tension may be caused by rumours on the health of Kim Jong-il.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – As of December 1st North Korea will close down its border crossings with the South, either partially or totally.  The announcement was reported by North Korea’s State Agency (Kcna), in a statement made by General Kim Yong-chol, chief delegate in talks between the two nations.  He specified that was speaking on behalf of top leaders without giving further details.

 “The South Korean puppet authorities – warned General Kim - should never forget that the present inter-Korean relations are at the crucial crossroads of existence and total severance”.

Every day thousands of Koreans cross the border between the two countries, for tourism or business despite the fact that relations between the two neighbours have dramatically chilled in recent months.  According to authorities from the North deals reached at the two inter-Korean Summits of 2000 and 2007 are also at risk.  Since 1953, the year in which the Korean War ended, a formal peace accord has never been signed, but in the interim relations between the two nations had improved: starting from 2000 they have shared common economic projects and many families divided in the past have been reunited.

The situation has deteriorated since last February following the election of conservative leader Lee Myung-bak as President of South Korea.

At the end of October North Korea had threatened new “actions” against the South for Seoul’s “hostile” policies: a statement released by Kcna had warned the South Korean government to stop activists who promote propaganda against the regime, by throwing balloons containing “leaflets against the communist government” and “foreign currency” across the border.

According to some analysts North Korea’s closing in on itself may also be linked to the rumours regarding the ill-health of Kim Jong-il: yesterday the news was that the “dear leader” was the victims of a second stroke in October.  South Korean intelligence agents have defined the information as “without credibility”, but doubts continue surrounding the illness of the communist dictator and the consequential passage of power in a nation that isolates itself and has nuclear technology.

 

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