North Korea cuts inter-Korean border traffic further Jong-il appearance

Dec 1, 2008, 11:37 GMT

Seoul - North Korea on Monday further restricted border traffic with South Korea, following earlier cuts in the number of travellers and a suspension of the only rail link across the border.

Under the new restrictions, Pyongyang is allowing only 880 South Koreans to travel to the joint Korean industrial complex in the city of Kaesong, just inside the North Korean border, the South Korean Unification Ministry announced.

The cut brings the number of South Koreans at Kaesong to just under one-fifth of its previous level of 4,200.

North Korea was also restricting access for South Koreans by opening its border checkpoint only six times per day, down from the previous 19 times.

The announcement came just days after Pyongyang suspended the freight rail connection to and passenger rail travel from South Korea.

Relations between the two neighbours have cooled markedly since a conservative government took office in Seoul in February, pledging to link inter-Korean economic cooperation with the North's nuclear disarmament.

North Korea has accused Seoul of confrontational policies and has rejected offers of talks between the two Koreas.

Meanwhile, Seoul called on Pyongyang to stop its latest border restrictions, which it said would hit production at South Korean factories located in Kaesong.

'The measure can never be justified and must be retracted,' a spokesman of the Unification Ministry said.

More than 30,000 North Koreans are employed by more than 90 South Korean companies at the Kaesong industrial estate.

The business park is widely regarded as the most visible sign of a rapprochement between the two neighbours since the 1990s.

Meanwhile, North Korea on Monday also tried to disperse ongoing speculation about the health of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il, who reportedly suffered a stroke in August, according to South Korean secret service information.

The 66-year-old was shown in apparent good health on North- Korea's state-controlled television while visiting an air force unit. However, as in previous such reports, no information was given about the date of his visit.