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Pyongyang halts South Korea talks | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
North Korea says it will suspend all dialogue with South Korea and has threatened to close the border, amid rising tensions on the peninsula. | |
The latest threats come after days of sabre-rattling - the North test-firing missiles and Seoul warning it would respond to any attacks. | |
South Korea's leader Lee Myung-bak has accused the North of fuelling tensions. | |
Since taking office, Mr Lee has angered Pyongyang by linking aid to progress on denuclearisation and human rights. | |
In recent days North Korea has expelled South Korean managers from a joint industrial base, test-fired short-range missiles and criticised Mr Lee in state media. | |
The communist nation is also seeking an apology from the South after General Kim Tae-young said Seoul could target the North's suspected nuclear sites if an attack looked imminent. | |
'Shenanigans' | 'Shenanigans' |
On Wednesday, South Korea's Defence Ministry sent a statement to North Korea asking it to stop "slander" and activities that would disrupt the stability of the Korean peninsula. | On Wednesday, South Korea's Defence Ministry sent a statement to North Korea asking it to stop "slander" and activities that would disrupt the stability of the Korean peninsula. |
Yonhap news agency says that in response, a North Korean general sent a statement threatening unspecified "military countermeasures". | Yonhap news agency says that in response, a North Korean general sent a statement threatening unspecified "military countermeasures". |
He also dismissed South Korea's statement as "shenanigans", the agency said. | He also dismissed South Korea's statement as "shenanigans", the agency said. |
Meanwhile, in a speech on Thursday, the South Korean president defended his general's remarks. | Meanwhile, in a speech on Thursday, the South Korean president defended his general's remarks. |
"The comments by Chairman Kim (Tae-young) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were a natural and ordinary reply to lawmakers' questions," he said. | "The comments by Chairman Kim (Tae-young) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were a natural and ordinary reply to lawmakers' questions," he said. |
"It shouldn't be interpreted differently. So North Korea's attitude is not desirable." | "It shouldn't be interpreted differently. So North Korea's attitude is not desirable." |
He called for "substantial dialogue" between the two countries. | He called for "substantial dialogue" between the two countries. |
In response, Pyongyang has threatened to close the border and cut off all dialogue. | |
The chill between the Koreas comes as talks on implementing the six-party nuclear disarmament deal appear to have stalled. | |
North Korea agreed last year to abandon its nuclear programme in return for aid. | North Korea agreed last year to abandon its nuclear programme in return for aid. |
But it then missed a deadline to fully disclose all of its activities and progress on the deal has come to a halt. | But it then missed a deadline to fully disclose all of its activities and progress on the deal has come to a halt. |