North Korea evicts South Korea resort personnel

Seoul - North Korea on Friday ordered most of the South Korean staff at a disputed mountain resort to leave the country, the Unification Ministry in Seoul said.

The joint Mount Kumgang tourism project is located on the North Korean east cost, but was built and operated by the South Korean government and state tourism agency.

The resort has been at a standstill for almost two years, ever since South Korea suspended visits to the resort after a North Korean soldier shot a South Korean tourist there.

South Korea has refused to resume visits despite repeated demands from Pyongyang.

North Korea has now stepped up the pressure, announcing that only 16 of the 70 remaining South Korean staffers can stay at the resort for communication purposes. The rest must leave North Korea by Monday, the ministry said.

Last week, North Korea had already confiscated five buildings run by the South Korean government at the resort. It also took control of privately run establishments this week, including hotels and a golf course.

The highly symbolic joint project was an important source of revenue for North Korea, which blames South Korea for the economic losses it has incurred. The country now wants to find new business partners to run the resort.

South Korea has condemned the North's actions and announced counter measures.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/321422,north-korea-evicts-south-korea-resort-personnel.html.