North begins expelling Kumgang workers

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North begins expelling Kumgang workers

North Korea has asked four ethnic Korean employees at a South Korean government-run family reunion center at Mount Kumgang to leave North Korea by 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Hyundai Asan, the South Korean company overseeing the suspended Mount Kumgang tourism, relayed the news. It was part of the North's implementation of its threats last week to freeze South Korean assets and expel workers in response to the South's reluctance to resume the tour program.

The North has also sealed keyholes on entrances to five facilities, which include a duty free shop and a cultural center, and has put up "keep-out" stickers.

The South's Unification Ministry said it was "regrettable" that the North decided to act on its words but that the South Korean government had no intention to respond to the North's move today.

By Yoo Jee-ho [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]

Related Korean Article

동결대상 건물 출입문에 `동결` 스티커 부착,정부 `유감..즉각 철회해야`


북한은 13일 금강산 이산가족면회소를 동결하면서 건물 관리 업무를 맡아온 중국인(조선족) 4명에 대해 14일 오전 10시까지 출국하라고 통보했다.

북한은 또 1차 동결 대상으로 지정한 5개 건물의 출입문 열쇠 구멍과 문틈에 '동결'이라고 적힌 스티커를 부착했다.

명승지종합개발지도국 관계자 등 북측 인사 20여명은 이날 오전 10시부터 정오까지 금강산 관광지구에서 이산가족면회소-소방서-온천장-문화회관-면세점(온정각동관) 순으로 동결을 집행하면서 이 같은 조치를 취했다고 현대아산 측이 전했다.

앞서 북한은 지난 8일 정부와 한국관광공사가 소유한 금강산 관광지구내 5개 부동산을 동결하고, 관리 인력을 추방하겠다고 예고했다.


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