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N Korea steps up row with South N Korea steps up row with South
(about 6 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 another 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 a month after a tourist from the South was shot dead 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. The South, which has suspended tours to the resort, described the North's decision as "incomprehensible".
The South has suspended tours to the resort pending an inquiry. Seoul has called for a joint inquiry into the shooting.
More than 260 southerners are working on Mount Kumgang - which had been regarded as one of the symbols of reconciliation between the two Koreas.
Differing accounts
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 the reasons for the decision were not entirely clear, the statement accused Seoul of "misleading the public opinion at home and abroad".
'Hostile actions' It was also highly critical of South Korea's recently-elected President Lee Myung-bak.
South Korean housewife Park Wang-ja, 53, was killed on 11 July as she walked on a beach near the resort. "The reality shows that traitor Lee Myung-Bak is driving the frozen inter-Korean relations to a catastrophic phase," it said.
North Korea said the woman had strayed deep into a fenced-off area and failed to respond to a warning. The South's Unification Ministry responded saying it regretted the North's decision, and renewed its criticism of Pyongyang for refusing to allow a joint inquiry into the shooting.
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. "We think it is regrettable that North Korea has taken incomprehensible actions instead of responding to a fact-finding investigation," the ministry said in a statement.
The North said on Sunday that it would respond to "even the slightest hostile actions" in the resort and its military areas. South Korean housewife Park Wang-ja, 53, was killed on 11 July on a beach near the resort.
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. North Korea said Mrs Park had strayed deep inside a restricted military zone, failed to heed warnings, and was shot while running away.
South Korea says forensic tests suggest she was shot while standing still or walking slowly, and photos of the beach area where she died show that it was not clearly defined as being out of bounds.
North Korea has refused to allow investigators from the South to visit the site.
Mrs Park's death overshadowed an announcement by Mr Lee that he wanted to reopen 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.