NORTH KOREA BREAKS RELATIONS WITH SOUTH KOREA
Baku, May 25 (AZERTAC). A North Korean spokesman says Pyongyang is severing all relations and cutting communications links with South Korea, VOA reports. North Korea says the move is punishment for what it calls a "smear campaign" over the sinking of a South Korean warship. Tensions are rapidly rising on the Korean peninsula.
North Korean official media accused South Korea Tuesday of trespassing in its territorial waters, and warned of military action.
Pyongyang says "dozens of warships" have entered waters west of the Korean peninsula in the past 10 days, and warns it will "put into force practical military measures to defend its waters."
North Korea has disputed a maritime border in the region for decades.
The Seoul government has accused North Korea of sinking a South Korean navy ship near the border and on Monday, President Lee Myung-bak announced package of retaliatory measures, such as cutting trade.
Repeating a warning he made in a televised address, Mr. Lee warned the situation is serious.
Lee says his country is in a dire situation.
Security concerns have spiked since last week, when a multinational investigation team revealed extensive evidence linking North Korea to the patrol ship sinking. Forty-six South Korean sailors were killed in the incident.
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