Following threats of war, North Korea has threatened to shut down the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.

North Korea announced through a statement Saturday afternoon that if the South Korean government and media make an issue of the Gaeseong Complex and tries to harm North Korea’s dignity while all military communication lines have been disconnected between the two Koreas, it will close down the complex at any time.

Pyongyang said that while South Korean media report that the complex is being operated because it is the North’s only source for foreign exchange, the actual reason is out of concerns that South Korean small- and medium-sized companies may go bankrupt if it is shut down.

South Korea’s Ministry of Unification said North Korea had given consent to entry of South Korean workers to the joint complex located in North Korean territory through the Gaeseong Industrial District Management Committee on Saturday morning. Seventy-eight South Korean workers entered the complex as of 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The North said it will keep a close eye on the South Korean government and media, adding that if such irrational comments are continued to be made, it will come up with stern measures.

An official at South Korea’s Unification Ministry said that Saturday’s announcement had been made as a follow-up to its recent announcement that it had entered the highest phase of military alert earlier this week. He said there have been no unusual changes at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex so far.