Chinese Media Focus Intensively on the Suspension of Inter-Korean Communication Channels

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] As North Korea announced that it will completely cut off all communication channels between the South and the North starting at noon on the 9th, Chinese media are also focusing on the related developments.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, "All inter-Korean communication channels will be severed at noon on the 9th," adding, "North Korea stated that it will completely cut off and close the communication channels between the North and South authorities that had been maintained through the inter-Korean joint liaison office." It also pointed out, "This measure is a retaliatory follow-up to the recent leaflet distribution by North Korean defectors," and "North Korea had already warned of cutting off communication channels citing the leaflet distribution issue."

The newspaper also mentioned that Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Party, warned in a statement on the 4th that if the leaflet distribution does not stop, the liaison office would be closed or the Kaesong Industrial Complex would be completely dismantled.

The state-run China Central Television (CCTV) also reported in its morning news that North Korea would simultaneously cut off the inter-Korean communication channels starting at 0:00 on the same day, citing North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. In a separate online report, it conveyed that South Korea's Ministry of Unification stated, "The inter-Korean communication channels are a basic means of communication and should be maintained as agreed. The South Korean government will continue to abide by inter-Korean consultations and make efforts for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula."

Global Times introduced the related content, stating, "North Korea had already warned of cutting off communication channels on the 4th citing the leaflet distribution issue," and "The South Korean government has also announced its position that it has banned leaflet distribution several times in relation to this."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.