NKorea puts military on “special alert” because of joint SKorean-US military drills

NKorea puts military on ’special alert’

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea says its military will be on “special alert” because of South Korea’s joint military drills with the U.S.

The communist nation’s army made the announcement Monday on the same day that the country said it was restarting key reconciliation projects with South Korea, to reunite separated families and organize joint tourism.

The North’s army said its troops would go on “a special alert” starting Monday, when South Korean and U.S. militaries planned to start annual computer-simulated war games.

The statement, carried by the country’s official Korean Central News Agency, says the North would retaliate mercilessly at the “slightest military provocation” from South Korea and the U.S. The two allies say their maneuvers are purely defensive.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it has agreed to lift border restrictions with South Korea to allow reunions of separated families and restart tourism trips to the North.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said in a dispatch early Monday that it agreed to restart tours to scenic Diamond Mountain resort and ancient sights in Kaesong, just north of the inter-Korean border.

The dispatch says the North also agreed to resume reunion of families separated by one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders.

The joint projects were suspended amid tensions since the inauguration of a conservative government in Seoul early last year.

The North says the agreement was reached with Seoul’s Hyundai Group, the main South Korean investor in North Korea.