North-South newspaper exchange halts

It was revealed Thursday that the newspaper interchange program between South and North Korea has ground to an abrupt halt only five days after its implementation.

"North Korea abruptly ended the interchange of newspapers Oct. 6," a source at the Ministry of Unification said. "The liaison officers at Panmunjom simply repeated that they have no orders from their superiors. The non-delivery of the newspaper might have some connection with the holidays surrounding the celebration of the birth of the North Korean Worker's Party."

Following the meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong-Il and the representatives of the newspapers from South Korea on Aug. 12 for the agreement to exchange newspapers, South Korea began sending starting Oct. 2 about 70 various publications, including vernaculars and specialized economic newspapers. In return, North Korea sent 70 copies of two types of newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun and the Minju Joson.