North Korea accuses South Korea of 'dangerous declaration of war'

The North also said it was shutting down two crucial cross-border communication hotlines and freezing all South Korean assets.

The South's Unification Ministry, responsible for ties with the North, said about 130 South Koreans had planned to enter Kaesong on Thursday to begin shutdown work, and that nearly 70 South Koreans who had been staying there would be leaving.

Tensions were raised after the North's nuclear test last month followed by a long rage rocket launch on Sunday.

South Korea responded by beginning work to suspend operations at the factory park – an action the North called a "dangerous declaration of war" and "an end to the last lifeline of the North-South relations."

The factory park, which started producing goods in 2004, has provided 616 billion won (£390 million) of cash to North Korea, South Korean Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said.

The news comes after a US intelligence chief warned North Korea could be just weeks away from stockpiling nuclear weapons. 

US experts have estimated that North Korea may have about 10 bombs – but that could grow to between 20 and 100 by 2020.

North Korea "probably remains capable and willing to launch disruptive or destructive cyberattacks to support its political objectives," Clapper said.

The damming findings comes just days after North Korea was discovered to be conducting underground test explosions and had set off a rocket launch.

The US annual security assessment also revealed ISIS will continue to threaten Americans both at home and abroad and al-Qaeda remains an enemy.

Clapper said: ”The perceived success of attacks by homegrown violent extremists in Europe and North America, such as in San Bernardino, might motivate others to replicate opportunistic attacks.”

He also said the US will continue to be hit by cyber attacks from China, Russia and North Korea.

(dailystar.co.uk)