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| South Korean cars pass through inspections near the border with North Korea, Thursday, to enter the Gaeseong Industrial Park a day after the North claimed it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. Seoul has put a partial ban on entry to the inter-Korean economic project. / Yonhap |
South Korea has restricted entry to the Gaeseong Industrial Park in North Korea after the North claimed a successful test of a hydrogen bomb Wednesday.
The Unification Ministry said Thursday it will allow only those who are directly involved in the operation of the park's factories and their associated companies to enter for an indefinite period.
The official said the South Korean government "sees the inter-Korean situation sparked by the nuclear test as very grave" and "will take necessary steps to ensure the safety of our nationals."
A total of 124 South Korean firms have factories in the park, where about 54,000 North Koreans are employed.
With the new sanction in effect, the number of South Koreans in the park may fall to 100 a day. As of Thursday morning, about 1,200 South Koreans were there for business.
North Korea said Wednesday it had completed a successful H-bomb test. But experts outside the state doubted this.
The North conducted other nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
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