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North Korea drastically reduced the number of South Korean nationals in the Kaesong Industrial Complex to 880 from Monday, a mere half of some 1,700 normally stationed there and a potentially severe blow to business operations.
Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said North Korea verbally notified the Kaesong Industrial Complex management committee of the decision at 11:55 p.m. on Sunday. The 880 people include 27 from the committee, 40 from Hyundai Asan, four from the Korea Land Corporation, seven in the cafeteria, accommodation and the café, two in the hospital and the rest at the businesses and construction companies working there.
However, North Korea said it will make an exception for some 4,200 South Koreans who already hold permit of stay and let them visit for business purposes for up to seven days. The government estimates that considering the exceptional cases, the number of South Koreans staying in Kaesong is expected to be around 1,000 at any one time.
Pyongyang will also reduce the maximum number of South Koreans visiting the country per day from 6,000 to 750. It will ban South Korean newspapers or magazines criticizing the North Korean regime, and anybody who attempts to bring them in will be expelled immediately.
The Unification Ministry in a statement condemned the action, saying it violates the very Oct. 4, 2007 Summit Declaration that North Korea has insisted that the South should adhere to. The declaration stipulates that both Koreas should seek solutions to conflict through dialogue and negotiations.
North Korea's official Rodong Shinmun daily dismissed the statement as "preposterous."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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