South Korean vehicles pass through a gate for the customs, immigration and quarantine office about 700m (0.4 miles ) south of the southern limiting line of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul, December 1, 2008 as they come to the South from the inter-Korean industrial park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong. (Lee Jae-Won/Reuters)From Yahoo News/Reuters:
PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) – North Korea slashed the number of South Korean workers at a joint industrial enclave in the North on Monday in a border clampdown seen as a pressure tactic to change Seoul's tough policy toward its neighbor.
The move comes just a week before destitute North Korea is expected to discuss a disarmament pact with five regional powers which promises Pyongyang economic and energy aid for taking apart its nuclear program and allowing inspections.
South Korean officials said last week they had reached a deal where more than 1,600 of the nearly 4,200 South Koreans permitted to work at the joint factory park in Kaesong would remain. But late on Sunday, North Korea then further cut that number and only allowed in 880, the South's Unification Ministry said.
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More News On North Korea
North Korea begins restricting border traffic -- Yahoo News/AP
S. Korea Expresses 'Deep Regret' About North's Border Clampdown -- Voice Of America
North Korea Clamps Down on Border Crossings -- Los Angeles Times
Pyongyang Tightens North-South Border -- Time Magazine
N Korea restricts border controls -- BBC News
Q+A - Why is North Korea shutting out the South? -- Alertnet
North Korea releases new photos of Kim Jong Il -- Yahoo News/AP