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North Korea fully severs transport communication with South

A spokesman for North Korea’s Defense Ministry said Pyongyang would take more measures "to permanently fortify the closed southern border"

© AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

SEOUL, October 17. /TASS/. North Korea has fully severed its car and railway communication with the South in eastern and western areas of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

"The General Staff of the Korean People's Army on Oct. 15 took a measure to physically cut off the DPRK's roads and railways which lead to the ROK [Republic of Korea] through the east and west sections of the southern border of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] as part of the phased complete separation of its territory, where its sovereignty is exercised, from the ROK's territory," reads a statement, published by KCNA.

On October 15, the 60-meter-long sections of the roads and railways in Kamho-ri, Kosong County, Kangwon Province and the 60-meter-long sections of the roads and railways in Tongnae-ri, Panmun District, Kaesong Municipality have been completely blocked through blasting, the report says.

KCNA explained that the decision was made as "an inevitable and legitimate measure" taken in line with the requirement of the DPRK Constitution, which clearly defines the South Korea as a hostile state, and also "due to the serious security circumstances running to the unpredictable brink of war" owing to the "grave political and military provocations of the hostile forces."

The authorities confirmed that the routes linking the two Koreas have been "completely separated."

A spokesman for North Korea’s Defense Ministry said Pyongyang would take more measures "to permanently fortify the closed southern border."

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