JERUSALEM — Israel declared yesterday it will not open the Gaza Strip's borders until Hamas militants free a captured Israeli soldier.

The decision was condemn- ed by Hamas, which is desperate for border crossings to open so it can start repairing destruction from Israel's military offensive last month.

Gaza's borders have been sealed by Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized control of the territory nearly two years ago. Israel allows only vital humanitarian supplies to enter.

N. KOREA THREAT 'NONEXISTENT'

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said today its missile and nuclear programs pose no threat, ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to South Korea for talks expected to focus on the communist country.

North Korea's military accused South Korea of misusing what it called "nonexistent nuclear and missile threats" as a pretext to invade, and renewed a warning that its troops are in an "all-out confrontational posture" against Seoul.

Clinton is scheduled to arrive in Seoul today.

MAN KILLS HIMSELF INSIDE CATHEDRAL

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — A man shot and killed himself in front of a cross inside televangelist Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral yesterday as a nearby volunteer told a group of visitors about the church's suicide-prevention program, police and church officials said.

The man handed a note and his driver's license to two ushers, walked to the cross and then shot himself in the head as he appeared to be praying, a senior pastor said.

SMOKER'S WIDOW TO GET $8 MILLION

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A chain smoker who died of lung cancer is more to blame for his habit than tobacco companies, but Philip Morris should pay $8 million to the man's widow and son for concealing the dangers of cigarettes, a Broward County, Fla., jury ordered yesterday.

The jury rejected Elaine Hess' demand for more than $130 million and found her husband, Stuart Hess, bore 58 percent of the blame for the damage he did to his health. Stuart Hess, who smoked up to three packs a day, died in 1997 at 55.

Philip Morris USA has vow- ed to appeal the verdict.