North Korea has notified South Korea of its decision to cut off communication lines between the Red Cross societies and maritime authorities of the two Koreas.

A spokesman from the Unification Ministry in Seoul says that the North sent the notice on the severance of the lines on Wednesday morning, as it threatened to do so in a statement issued by North Korea’s Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland on Tuesday.

However, inter-Korean military communication lines continue to operate as usual for the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and the Mount Geumgang resort in North Korea.

Pyongyang has also not sent a separate notice on the expulsion of South Korean workers or the closure of an office dealing with inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation at the Gaeseong complex.

The spokesman said that the South Korean government will take resolute, unwavering actions against North Korea’s threats. He added that the government will push to punish North Korea for sinking the “Cheonan” naval vessel.

Seoul announced punitive measures against North Korea’s sinking of the ship on Monday.