Isolated North Korea tightens borders

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The moves come a day after the North said it would not let international inspectors remove nuclear samples from its plant that produces weapons-grade plutonium, which could drag down an international disarmament-for-aid deal.

The measures came amid widespread speculation that North Korea's 66-year-old leader Kim Jong-il may have suffered a stroke, raising questions about his hold on power and who was making decisions about the country's nuclear weapons programme.

"By restricting the flow of Chinese visitors, North Korea seems to be trying to have a firmer grip on its internal situation, especially with Kim Jong-il's suspected health problems receiving global attention," said Park Young-ho, of the South's Korea Institute for National Unification.

China is the nearest North Korea has to a major ally and the rail and road routes across their border are the reclusive state's main commercial link to the outside world.

The Financial Times quoted U.S. officials as saying Beijing had increased the number of troops on its border with North Korea to prevent a possible flood of refugees flowing into China if leader Kim lost control.

"I haven't heard of any abnormal circumstances on the border between China and North Korea," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said when asked about the reports of closing the border.

Travel agents in China, who send a steady though small stream of tourists to North Korea, said they were still organising visits, though trips had to be made via air rather than by rail.

China's relations with North Korea have long been characterised as being "as close as lips and teeth" after they fought side-by-side during the 1950-53 Korean War.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said the North may be trying to strong-arm the international community into giving it more aid in exchange for Pyongyang taking its foot off the brakes on the disarmament deal.

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