N. Korea Announces Final Closure of Border With S. Korea

North Korea's army said on Wednesday it was moving to "permanently shut off and block the southern border," noting that it had informed the US military to prevent an accidental clash. In a statement, the North Korean military said that Pyongyang would "cut off roads and railways" that might have made travel between the two Koreas possible, and that it would build "strong defense structures" in the areas in response to South Korea-US military maneuvers. The announcement came amid ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula as the North has sent trash-carrying balloons toward the South and publicly disclosed a uranium enrichment facility for the first time. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it had not detected any construction work by the North Korean military near the border as of Wednesday morning. Since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un characterized the Koreas as "two hostile states" late last year, the North has taken steps to eliminate routes once seen as symbols of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, including by installing mines along the Gyeongui and Donghae roads. Source: Qatar News Agency