960404

DMZ control no

longer possible,

says N Korea

TOKYO: North Korea announced on Thursday it was giving up its duties concerning "maintenance and control" in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas.

A statement by the country's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the North Korean Army was taking "self defensive measures...now that the status of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) can no longer be maintained".

The KCNA report, monitored in Tokyo, said the action was necessary because there had been flagrant violations of the armistice agreement.

"Firstly, the KPA (North Korean Army) side shall give up its duty, under the armistice agreement, concerning the maintenance and control of the military demarcation line and DMZ," the statement said.

"Secondly, the KPA side shall, as a follow-up step to the first measure, have its personnel and vehicles bear no distinctive insignia and marking when they enter the joint security area of Panmunjom and DMZ," it said.-Reuter