Hundreds leave DPRK industrial enclave

Hundreds of people from the Republic of Korea (ROK) streamed out of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the weekend, expelled from a joint industrial enclave by Pyongyang in anger at hardline policy of the conservative leader in the ROK.

The expulsions, part of measures to tighten the border with the ROK, came about a week before regional powers are expected to meet in Beijing to resume talks on ending the DPRK's nuclear program and compensate it with economic and energy aid.

However, a ROK official said as many as 1,700 managers from ROK could return to the industrial zone just north of the heavily armed border from today, when DPRK's new border restrictions take effect.