South Korea 'regrets' N. Korea's cut-off of last military channel

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea expressed 'regret' over North Korea's
suspension of the last inter-Korean military hotline on Monday, urging Pyongyang
to immediately withdraw the measure amid rising border tensions.
North Korea's military warned earlier in the day that it was immediately cutting
off a military hotline with South Korea, the only inter-Korean communications
channel that remained open after a number of others were closed by Pyongyang in
protest against Seoul's hardline policy.
"Our government regrets" the North Korean measure, Seoul's Unification Ministry
spokesman, Kim Ho-nyoun, said.
"We demand that North Korea immediately withdraw the measure... on the principle
of general inter-Korean agreements," he said.
South Koreans are allowed to cross the border only after notification of their
trip is first sent to North Korea through the military hotline.
The North said the communications channel will remain closed until the 12-day
joint exercise by South Korean and U.S. forces ends on March 20.
More than 570 people are currently visiting the Kaesong industrial complex South
Korea developed in the North Korean border town. It is not known whether the
North will allow them to return, officials said. Starting 3 p.m., 242 of them are
scheduled to return, they said.
About 700 people scheduled to visit Kaesong on Monday canceled their trips, they
said.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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