The head of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) delegation to the inter-Korean general-level military talks Monday announced five measures on the bilateral ties with South Korea, which include restricting and cutting off all the land passages through the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the measures, to be effective from Dec.1, are the first step taken by the DPRK to cope with the "prevailing grave situation" caused by the South Korean side.
The five measures are as follows: The Korean People's Army (KPA) will selectively expel the resident personnel and vehicles of the institutions and enterprises concerned with the authorities in the Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) and Mt. Kumgang tourist area and cut off their overland passages through the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
It will totally suspend the tour of Kaesong by the south side's personnel now being conducted after their passage through the MDL in the portions on the West Coast under the control of the north and the south.
It will disallow the south side's train service between Pongdong and Munsan and close the MDL in the region.
It will strictly restrict the passage of all personnel of the south side through the MDL to enter the KIZ and Mt. Kumgang tourist area under the name of visit and economic cooperation, etc.
And finally, more strict order and discipline will be enforced as regards the passage and entry into the KIZ and Mt. Kumgang tourist area and stringent sanctions applied against any violators of them.
The head of the delegation said the prospect of the inter-Korean relations will entirely depend on the attitude of the south Korean authorities. He also advised the South Korean authority to "pay heed to the KPA's warning that it never makes an empty talk."
On Nov. 12, the head officially informed South Korea that the KPA would put into force the crucial measures including strictly restricting and cutting off all the overland passages through the MDL from Dec.1, but without elaborating on details.
(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2008)
