SEOUL, Aug 9: North Korea said it would start expelling South Korean personnel from a mountain resort in the communist state on Sunday amid growing tensions over the shooting of a Seoul tourist.

“The measure of expelling personnel of the South side unnecessary in the tourist area of Mount Kumgang shall take effect from August 10,” the head of the military unit controlling the East Coast area said in a statement carried by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry expressed regret, urging the North to “stop escalating tensions and resolve the issue swiftly.”

A total of 164 South Koreans are staying in the area, including two officials of the Korea Tourism Organisation and nine workers from three South Korean companies that built the reunion facility.

The South suspended tourist trips to Kumgang immediately after the July 11 fatal shooting of a housewife who strayed into a restricted military area.

The North blames the South for the incident.—AFP