Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- KCNA reported on October 16 that the roads and railways connected to the ROK in the east and west parts of the southern border of the DPRK have been completely blocked.

The report says:

Under the order No. 00122 of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the General Staff of the Korean People's Army on Oct. 15 took a measure to physically cut off the DPRK's roads and railways which lead to the ROK through the east and west sections of the southern border of the DPRK as part of the phased complete separation of its territory, where its sovereignty is exercised, from the ROK's territory.

A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK said that in the daytime of October 15, the 60-metre-long sections of the roads and railways in Kamho-ri, Kosong County, Kangwon Province and the 60-metre-long sections of the roads and railways in Tongnae-ri, Panmun District, Kaesong Municipality have been completely blocked through blasting.

This is an inevitable and legitimate measure taken in keeping with the requirement of the DPRK Constitution which clearly defines the ROK as a hostile state, and due to the serious security circumstances running to the unpredictable brink of war owing to the grave political and military provocations of the hostile forces.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Land and Environment Protection of the DPRK confirmed that the blasting had no negative effect on the surrounding ecological environment and that the routes linking the DPRK to the ROK have been completely separated.

A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK said that the DPRK will continue to take measures to permanently fortify the closed southern border. -0-