Ministry of Unification "Declaration to Block North Korean Border, Anti-Unification and Anti-National Acts"

The Ministry of Unification strongly condemned North Korea's declaration that it would carry out fortification work to sever inter-Korean land routes and permanently seal the southern border, calling it an anti-unification and anti-national act.

A Unification Ministry official said in a written briefing today that North Korea's move to separate the two Koreas' territories is an act of betraying the aspirations of South Koreans and North Koreans for unification.

Subsequently, the government emphasized that it will continue to pursue efforts to achieve peaceful unification based on the Korean Constitution and the basic liberal democratic order declared in the August 15 Unification Doctrine.

"North Korea's failure to notify our side of the issue separately appears to be a measure to avoid contact with us in the extension of the 'hostile two countries' relationship," the official said, adding that the government is closely communicating and cooperating with the UNC.