Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) -- The Measure Council for Checking the Construction of Jeju Naval Base of south Korea issued a statement on September 6 denouncing the authorities for vandalizing precious historic sites and relics due to the naval base construction.

The statement recalled that precious historic sites and relics including relics dating back to Bronze and Iron Ages were discovered in the naval base construction site and in the area around it long ago.

These findings required a detailed survey of the whole area around the construction site but the Agency of Cultural Properties limited the survey to some parts of the area and turned a blind eye to the base construction, claiming historic sites and relics were not discovered, the statement charged, and continued:

The military, too, set up fences and are pushing forward the project, though it is well aware of the finding of historic sites and relics.

The fences were set up exactly by the side of the place where the relics were discovered quite contrary to the agency's claim that they were set up in the area beyond the area where those relics were found. This fact indicates that the authorities are brushing aside the possibility of damaging historic sites and relics.

All these acts require an immediate halt to the naval base construction.

It threatened a legal action unless the project is halted.