N. Korea blows up joint liaison office in Kaesong

North Korea blows up inter-

Korean liaison office – 

Unification Ministry

(2nd LD) N. Korea blows up joint liaison office in Kaesong

SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong on Tuesday, sharply escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula after near-daily threats to punish Seoul over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets.

The North exploded the liaison office at 2:49 p.m., the unification ministry said.

Earlier, military sources said that smoke was seen and an explosion was heard from the border town.

The explosion came just days after Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned Saturday night, "Before long, a tragic scene of the useless North-South joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen."

The North has been lashing out at the South for failing to stop defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border via balloons.

The liaison office was launched in September 2018 to facilitate inter-Korean exchange and cooperation amid a reconciliatory mood created by summit talks between their leader.

The two Koreas had suspended its operation since early January over concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, North Korea defined South Korea as an "enemy" and vowed to cut off all communication lines in anger over leaflets sent by activists in South Korea

(2nd LD) N. Korea blows up 

joint liaison office in Kaesong

SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong on Tuesday, sharply escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula after near-daily threats to punish Seoul over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets.

The North exploded the liaison office at 2:49 p.m., the unification ministry said.

Earlier, military sources said that smoke was seen and an explosion was heard from the border town.

The explosion came just days after Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned Saturday night, "Before long, a tragic scene of the useless North-South joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen."

The North has been lashing out at the South for failing to stop defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border via balloons.

The liaison office was launched in September 2018 to facilitate inter-Korean exchange and cooperation amid a reconciliatory mood created by summit talks between their leader.

The two Koreas had suspended its operation since early January over concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, North Korea defined South Korea as an "enemy" and vowed to cut off all communication lines in anger over leaflets sent by activists in South Korea

An inter-Korean liaison office located in the border town of Kaesong has been demolished by the North, Seoul’s Unification Ministry has claimed amid rising tensions between the neighboring nations.

North Korea is said to have blown up the facility, which was inaugurated by the two countries back in 2018, on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, an explosion was heard and smoke was seen coming from the area.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200616008252325?section=nk/nk

From a couple of days ago

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/never-again-frustrated-north-korea-says-trump-kim-bromance-over