The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s Red Cross Society on Wednesday cut off connections with South Korea in retaliation for its sponsorship of a U.N. resolution on DPRK's human rights record, the official KCNA news agency reported.

The central committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society declared that it had closed the liaison mission in Panmunjom, withdrew the delegates for the north side and cut off all inter-Korean direct telephone channels passing through Panmunjom, the KCNA said.

South Korea has co-sponsored for the first time a U.N. resolution condemning the DPRK's human rights record.

The move was "a blatant challenge to the dignity and system of the DPRK," the KCNA said.

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on the resolution in mid-November.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2008)