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N Korea steps up row with South | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
North Korea has said it will expel South Korean workers from a mountain resort, in a further sign of worsening relations between the two countries. | North Korea has said it will expel South Korean workers from a mountain resort, in a further sign of worsening relations between the two countries. |
The move comes after a South Korean tourist was shot dead last month by a soldier at Mount Kumgang, a special tourist zone in the North. | The move comes after a South Korean tourist was shot dead last month by a soldier at Mount Kumgang, a special tourist zone in the North. |
Seoul questioned the account given by Pyongyang - which said the tourist had strayed into a military zone. | Seoul questioned the account given by Pyongyang - which said the tourist had strayed into a military zone. |
The South has suspended tours to the resort pending an inquiry. | The South has suspended tours to the resort pending an inquiry. |
A military statement carried by North Korean media said the government would expel all South Koreans deemed "unnecessary" from the resort. | A military statement carried by North Korean media said the government would expel all South Koreans deemed "unnecessary" from the resort. |
Although visits by tourists have been suspended, more than 260 southerners are working on Mount Kumgang - which had been regarded as one of the symbols of reconciliation between the two Koreas. | Although visits by tourists have been suspended, more than 260 southerners are working on Mount Kumgang - which had been regarded as one of the symbols of reconciliation between the two Koreas. |
'Hostile actions' | |
South Korean housewife Park Wang-ja, 53, was killed on 11 July as she walked on a beach near the resort. | |
North Korea said the woman had strayed deep into a fenced-off area and failed to respond to a warning. | |
But South Korean investigators, who were not allowed to visit the site, said they believed the woman had been closer to the fence than the North had indicated. | |
The North said on Sunday that it would respond to "even the slightest hostile actions" in the resort and its military areas. | |
Mrs Park's death overshadowed an announcement by the country's President Lee Myung-bak that he wanted to re-open the stalled dialogue with North Korea. | |
Mr Lee's decision to proceed with diplomatic overtures to North Korea despite the shooting has drawn criticism in the South Korean media. | Mr Lee's decision to proceed with diplomatic overtures to North Korea despite the shooting has drawn criticism in the South Korean media. |
The Mount Kumgang resort has attracted more than one million South Korean visitors since 1998. | The Mount Kumgang resort has attracted more than one million South Korean visitors since 1998. |
Access to the special tourism zone is tightly controlled, and its border heavily policed. | Access to the special tourism zone is tightly controlled, and its border heavily policed. |