North Korea Destroys South Korean Liaison Office

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South Korea says North Korea has destroyed a liaison office on the border between the two countries.

"North Korea destroyed the Kaesong Liaison Office at 2:49 p.m.," the South Korean Ministry of Relations said in a statement sent to the media.

Local news agency Yanhap quoted its sources as saying that shortly before the ministry's statement, an explosion was heard in the joint industrial zone of the two countries where the office is located, after which smoke was seen rising into the air from there. went.

It may be recalled that since the beginning of June, North Korea has issued several strong statements condemning the dumping of anti-North pamphlets on the other side of the border with South Korea.

Most anti-North pamphlets from South Korea are released in hot air balloons or in floating bottles, in which North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is criticized for human rights abuses and nuclear ambitions.

North Korea announced last week that it was cutting off all formal contacts with the South.

Analysts say North Korea may want to create a crisis to increase pressure on the South.

On the other hand, the North Korean military said in a statement today that it is fully prepared for action against South Korea, including the return to areas from which the two countries' forces have withdrawn under an agreement. Are