N Korea vows to block border with S Korea and boost front-line defence

North Korea said Wednesday it will permanently block its border with South Korea and boost its front-line defense posture to cope with confrontational hysteria" by South Korean and US forces, while not announcing an expected constitutional revision to formally designate South Korea its principal enemy and codify new national borders.

While the moves were likely a pressure tactic, it's unclear how they will affect ties with South Korea since cross-border travel and exchanges have been halted for years.

North Korea's military said Wednesday it will completely cut off roads and railways linked to South Korea and fortify the relevant areas of our side with strong defense structures, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

The North's military called its steps a self-defensive measure for inhibiting war and defending the security of North Korea. It said that the hostile forces are getting ever more reckless in their confrontational hysteria. It cited what it called