The Unification Ministry has dismissed rumors that the government is mulling to either pull out South Korean companies from the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea or shut down the joint industrial park.
 
A ministry official said Tuesday that no such considerations are currently being made.
 
On restricting the number of South Koreans that enter the industrial park, the official said the move is aimed at guaranteeing South Koreans' safety.
 
The official said the two steps the government took so far to limit South Koreans’ entry into the complex do not violate an agreement adopted on August 14, 2013 on normalizing operations of the joint venture. In that accord, the two Koreas agreed not to suspend the operation of the industrial park due to changes in state affairs.
 
The official said limiting the entry of South Koreans is not aimed at blocking business activities.
 
Last Thursday, the Unification Ministry only allowed the entry of South Koreans whose work at the industrial park is directly related to production activities. On the following Monday, the ministry allowed only the entry of the utmost necessary personnel.