THE Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said yesterday morning that it would cut off all communication and liaison lines with the Republic of Korea (ROK) at noon yesterday, blasting Seoul for failing to stop “defectors from the North” from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the DPRK.

“The relevant field of our side will completely cut off and shut down the liaison line between the authorities of the North and the South. This measure is the first step of the determination to completely shut down all contact means with the ROK and get rid of unnecessary things,” DPRK’s state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying commented on the renewed tensions saying China hopes the two countries will improve their bilateral relationship through dialogue.

Hua noted that the relationship between the DPRK and the ROK plays a key role in shaping the situation on the peninsula. China hopes the two sides can progress on reconciliation and cooperation.

The move came days after Pyongyang threatened to abolish an inter-Korean liaison office and scrap their military agreement on easing tensions. The DPRK said the leaflet-sending activities had breached a series of peace agreements between Pyongyang and Seoul, particularly the Panmunjom Declaration signed in April 2018.

The DPRK has “reached a conclusion that there is no need to sit face to face with the South Korean authorities and there is no issue to discuss with them, as they have only aroused our dismay,” said the KCNA.

It announced that the DPRK will “completely cut off and shut down” all communications lines with the ROK, including the hotline between DPRK’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and ROK’s presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, as well as a liaison line and military communication lines.

The decisions were made at a meeting attended by Kim Yo Jong, first vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK and also DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, and Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the WPK, the KCNA said.

ROK’s Unification Ministry said that the DPRK did not answer its liaison office’s phone call, according to Yonhap news agency.

“The liaison office attempted to call North Korea [the DPRK] this morning, but the North did not answer,” it said.

The ministry reiterated that the ROK remains committed to agreements between the two sides and will continue to make efforts for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

(CGTN)