The government Tuesday ruled out the possibility of shutting down the joint factory park in North Korea, saying it is “premature” to consider, despite the existing limits on entry.

In the wake of Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test, Seoul’s Unification Ministry has twice curbed the number of South Korean managers and employees staying in the Gaeseong business district to “minimal levels required for production.” It has also levied restrictions on humanitarian aid and civilian exchange programs.

On Tuesday, 669 people had crossed the border in the morning and 516 were planning to exit later in the day. This represents a sharp drop compared to the typical figures hovering around 800. 

“It’s too early to talk about any closure at this point,” a ministry official told reporters on customary condition of anonymity, calling it a “last resort policy.”

The entry control came amid growing safety concerns following South Korea’s restart of anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts along the Demilitarized Zone last Friday in its first retaliatory step following the underground blast two days earlier.

Ten days after Seoul reactivated the loudspeakers last August, the communist state launched artillery shells apparently at the equipment, prompting the South to fire back.

As cross-border tensions soared in 2013, the industry complex suffered an unprecedented four-month freeze, which was lifted after inter-Korean talks in August.

“Now we’re at a stage where we should put top priority on the safety (of the citizens). We will review our policy options until the international coordination mechanism process is complete, though some adjustments may be made after that,” the official added, referring to the U.N. Security Council’s ongoing moves to impose sanctions on the North. 

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)