Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

S Korea 'regrets' DPRK's cut-off of last military communications channel

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-09 11:10

SEOUL -- South Korea expressed "regrets" over Pyongyang's cut-off of last military communications channel, Yonhap said Monday.

Related readings:  DPRK orders army to be fully combat ready  DPRK, UNC hold military talks over tension reduction  China follows develeopment of DPRK's satellite test fire  New US envoy on DPRK heads to region

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had cut off the last inter-Korean communications channel to protest South Korea's military exercise with the United States, Yonhap news agency reported.

"Our government regrets" DPRK's measure, Yonhap quoted South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun as saying.

The spokesman demanded that DPRK immediately withdraw the measure on the principle of general inter-Korean agreements.

DPRK said the communications channel would remain closed until the 12-day joint exercise by South Korean and US forces ends on March 20, Yonhap reported.

South Korea and the United States kicked off their annual joint military exercises on Monday.

According to the Chosun Daily, 26,000 US troops and over 50, 000 South Korean troops will participate in the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercise all over South Korea.