A newspaper in the Mexican border city of Juarez announced on Sunday that it is shutting down because the rampant, unpunished killings of journalists in the country have made it too dangerous to go on.

Norte executive Oscar Cantu Murguia informed readers of his decision in a farewell letter titled "Adios!" that was published on the paper's front page and online.

He cited the recent murder of journalist Miroslava Breach in the city of Chihuahua, which like Juarez is in Chihuahua state. Breach was a reporter for the national newspaper La Jornada and had also collaborated with Norte.

"On this day, esteemed reader, I address you to report that I have made the decision to close this newspaper due to the fact that, among other things, there are neither the guarantees nor the security to exercise critical, counterbalance journalism," Mr Cantu wrote.

"Everything in life has a beginning and an end, a price to pay," he continued. "And if this is life, I am not prepared for any more of my collaborators to pay it, nor with my own person."