N. Korea abolishes agencies handling inter-Korean affairs at parliamentary meeting

▲ This file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 31, 2023, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un attending a year-end plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-parliamentary meeting

N. Korea abolishes agencies handling inter-Korean affairs at parliamentary meeting

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has decided to abolish agencies in charge of inter-Korean affairs at a key parliamentary meeting, state media reported Tuesday, as leader Kim Jong-un said South Korea should be marked "No. 1 hostile country" in the Constitution.

The decision was made at the 10th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) held Monday in Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The bodies in question include the National Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, an agency in charge of national economic cooperation, and an agency handling the Mt. Kumgang tour project.

KCNA said North Korea will dismantle those agencies which have only existed for the purpose of promoting inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation.

The North's Cabinet and related organizations will take "practical" measures to implement the SPA decision.

The meeting came as the North's leader defined relations with South Korea as those between "two states hostile to each other" at a year-end party meeting, saying there is no point with seeking unification.

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