The South Korean unification minister has offered his resignation over the sharp rise in tensions with the North.
Kim Yeon-chul said he took responsibility for the worsening of inter-Korean relations.
It comes a day after North Korea blew up a symbolic liaison office near the border which was built to improve ties with the South.
The North Korean army meanwhile has said it will send troops into disarmed areas along the border.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pyongyang explained why it blew up the office in Kaesong.
A state media article accused the South of breaking 2018 agreements and behaving like a “mongrel dog” – while the sister of Kim Jong-un accused the South’s president of being a US “flunkey”.
While the South says it remains open for talks, it has condemned the North’s actions as senseless and damaging.
Tensions have sharply escalated in recent weeks – partly prompted by defectors in the South sending propaganda over the border.
BBC
