North Korea had earlier demanded South Korea send workers to Diamond Mountain at an agreed upon date to clear out the facilities. North Korea has yet to report any illness from the new type of coronavirus that was first detected last month in neighboring China. It has sickened thousands, most of them China, but South Korea has reported 11 cases. ADThat came weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the destruction of the South Korean facilities he described as “shabby” and “unpleasant-looking” while vowing that the North would redevelop the site on its own. South Korea had said it will prioritize protecting its property rights and seek “creative solutions” to problems in inter-Korean dialogue.

Source: Washington Post January 31, 2020 04:07 UTC