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North Korea says it
is in ¡¥state of war¡¦ with South
AP, SEOUL
North Korea warned Seoul yesterday that the Korean Peninsula was entering ¡§a
state of war¡¨ and threatened to shut down a factory complex that is the last
major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation.
Analysts say a full-scale conflict is extremely unlikely, saying that the Korean
Peninsula has remained in a technical state of war for 60 years.
However, the North¡¦s continued threats toward Seoul and Washington, including a
vow to launch a nuclear strike, have raised worries that a misjudgement could
lead to a clash.
The Kaesong industrial park, which is run with North Korean labor and South
Korean know-how, has been operating normally, despite Pyongyang shutting down a
communications channel typically used to coordinate travel by South Korean
workers to and from the park just across the border in North Korea. The rivals
are now coordinating the travel indirectly, through an office at Kaesong that
has outside lines to South Korea.
However, an identified spokesman for the North¡¦s office controlling Kaesong said
yesterday that it would close the factory park if South Korea continued to
undermine its dignity.
Pyongyang expressed anger over media reports that suggested the factory remained
open because it was a source of hard currency for the impoverished North. Dozens
of South Korean firms run factories in the border town of Kaesong. Using North
Korea¡¦s cheap, efficient labor, the Kaesong complex produced US$470 million
worth of goods last year.
North Korea has previously made such threats about Kaesong without acting on
them, and recent weeks have seen a torrent of bellicose rhetoric from Pyongyang.
North Korea is angry about annual South Korea-US military drills and new UN
sanctions over its nuclear test last month.
North Korea¡¦s threats are seen as efforts to provoke the new government in
Seoul, led by South Korean President Park Geun-hye, to change its policies
toward Pyongyang, and to win diplomatic talks with Washington that could get it
more aid.
North Korea¡¦s moves are also seen as ways to build domestic unity as young North
Korean leader Kim Jong-un strengthens his military credentials.
On Thursday, US military officials revealed that two B-2 stealth bombers dropped
dummy munitions on front lines as part of drills with South Korean troops. Hours
later, Kim ordered his generals to put rockets on standby and threatened to
strike US targets if provoked.
North Korea said in a statement yesterday that it would deal with South Korea
according to ¡§wartime regulations¡¨ and would retaliate against any provocations
by the US and South Korea without notice.
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