North Korea suddenly severs all contact with South and ‘stops answering phones’ as Kim Jong-un emerges from hiding
NORTH Korea has stopped all contact with the South and severed hotlines between the countries' political and military leaders.
The move follows Kim Jong-un's emergence from hiding after weeks out of the public eye and widespread speculation about his health.
A report on the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KNCA) said that the North would shut off all communication from midday today.
In the absence of formal diplomatic relations or embassies, the two countries typically communicate via a jointly-run body called the Inter-Korean Liaison Office.
The office maintains a number of lines of communication, including hotlines between senior figures within the countries' militaries as well as their presidential offices.
The North has released a series of statements over the last week threatening to close the office if the South did not stop defectors sending anti-regime material back over the border.
Defectors from North Korea are known to use a number of methods, including pamphlets dropped from small air balloons, to get information back into the country.
The move is likely also part of diplomatic manoeuvring related to severe international sanctions currently in place on the North, the reported.
The sanctions are thought to be having a devastating impact on North Korea's economy and population.
'DANGEROUS AT A TIME OF CRISIS'
Despite the decision only officially coming into force today, a spokesperson for the South Korean ministry of defence said routine daily calls made through the liaison office yesterday went unanswered.
Daniel Wertz, Programme Manager at the National Committee on North Korea, tweeted that severing communications was a "well-worn play" for the North, but a "dangerous one" amid the coronavirus crisis.
The spat comes after Kim Jong-un disappeared from view for almost three weeks in April, prompting speculation about his health as well as reports of his death.
He reemerged at the beginning of May, and this week was seen smiling at a meeting of senior officials from the ruling Workers' Party.
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The KNCA report stated that Kim and other senior figures in Pyongyang had decided that “the work towards the South should thoroughly turn into one against an enemy”.
“[The North Korean people have] been angered by the treacherous and cunning behaviour of the South Korean authorities, with whom we will have lots of accounts to settle," it said.
“We have reached a conclusion that there is no need to sit face to face with the South Korean authorities and there is no issue to discuss with them, as they have only aroused our dismay.”
