The government says no unusual signs have been detected in North Korea.

Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun told a briefing on Monday that broadcasts, domestic and international events in North Korea are proceeding normally. He said private inter-Korean exchanges are also moving as usual.

Japan's Sankei Shimbun daily said Sunday that the communist state could issue a major statement on inter-Korean ties or its political affairs, or slap a ban on foreigners' entry into the country.