N. Korea Details Border Restrictions
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
North Korea has detailed its passage restriction, starting Dec. 1, only allowing South Koreans to enter its territory once a week via its eastern border and three times a day via the western border, the Ministry of Unification said Thursday.
The restriction, however, will not negatively affect the operation of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong, a symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation, ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said.
``A North Korean official informed that South Koreans will be allowed to cross the border near the East Coast at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, only from Dec. 1,'' Kim told reporters.
The area is a gateway to scenic Mt. Geumgang. The Mt. Geumgang tour program has been suspended since a South Korean female tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier there on July 11.
As a result, the reduction from the current bi-daily tours is not expected to hinder passages of South Koreans.
The reclusive state also reduced the number of people and vehicles allowed to cross the border from the current 500 people and 200 cars to 250 people and 150 vehicles or fewer, Kim added.
A day earlier, an official of the North Korean office in charge of management of the tourism enclave asked officials of Hyundai Asan, South Korea's operator of tour programs, to halve their personnel and vehicles until the end of this month.
The North will allow South Koreans to cross the border near the West Coast, which leads to the Gaeseong industrial park, three times a day, except for Sundays and North Korea's national holidays.
Fewer than 500 South Koreans and 200 vehicles were allowed to pass through the area 19 times a day, but from next month, only 250 people and 150 cars can enter the North at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. only.
Nonetheless, the spokesman downplayed concerns that the restriction may obstruct production activities of South Korean companies at the industrial site.
``Tours to the area will be suspended from next month, so the number of people who cross the border will be reduced. As a result, South Korean workers are expected to have no difficulties entering the site, even after the restriction comes into effect,'' he said.
Earlier in the day, Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong proposed holding inter-Korean dialogue to discuss the North's plans to halt inter-Korean projects.
``I, as the unification minister, urge North Korea to scrap the plans again,'' he said. ``Following the spirit to solve problems through talks and negotiations, I propose government officials from the South and North meet and discuss the issues.''
North Korea announced Monday that it will suspend tours to Gaeseong and halt border-crossing railway services from December in retaliation to Seoul's tougher stance on the North.
The Stalinist state has refused dialogue since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in February.