"SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- The United Nations Command in South Korea has described as "unfortunate" an announcement from the North Korean military that it will no longer participate in a weekly cross-border dialogue
The North's announcement Wednesday that it would pull out of the talks comes amid continued tensions with the United States over Pyongyang's alleged nuclear weapons program.
In a statement carried on state media the North also said it would have "no option" but to stop honoring commitments to the 1953 Korean War armistice because of "persistent war moves" by the United States in and around the Korean Peninsula.
Expressing its concern at the North's decision the United Nations Command (UNC) said continued dialogue vital to ease tensions along one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world.
Military officials from both sides of the demilitarized zone dividing North and South Korea have held regular talks at the border village of Panmunjom since the truce was signed there five decades ago.
However, the UNC statement noted that the North's support for dialogue had "fluctuated over the years."
Nonetheless, it said, "North Korea's decision to back away from dialogue at this time is unfortunate."
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