North Korea set itself a new time zone dubbed "Pyongyang time" by pushing back the clock half an hour starting Saturday, which marks the 70th anniversary of Korean independence from Japanese colonial rule.
 
At 30 minutes past Saturday midnight South Korean time, the North's Korean Central Television formally announced the use of Pyongyang time with a bell sound and showing a clock image set at 12 a.m. 
 
The 30 minute gap between the two Koreas is expected to cause confusion in cross-border economic projects and civic exchanges.
 
South Koreans entering the joint Gaeseong Industrial Complex in the North on Monday will be the first to be affected.
 
Seoul's Unification Ministry said that North Korea was supposed to inform its stance on the standard time change, but there has been no word yet.
 
The ministry said that it nonetheless delivered the existing Gaeseong complex entry timetable for Monday to the North on Friday.
 
Entrance to the North Korean factory zone has been conducted to date by the South handing over a passage plan followed by the North's approval.