Updated

North Korea is threatening to cut off a military communication channel with South Korea and to stop engaging with its southern rival.

North Korea's powerful National Military Commission also said Monday that South Korea is escalating a confrontation with the North.

The statement says Pyongyang will cut off communications along the countries' eastern border and shut down a liaison office in a now-stalled joint tourism facility in the North. The statement doesn't mention other military hotlines.

It says the North will no longer deal with South Korea. Despite that threat, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is reported to have recently offered to hold direct talks with South Korea's president.