A trial shuttle bus service between South Korea's capital and the Gaesong industrial complex in North Korea has been launched.

An official at Hyundai Asan, a major operator of inter-Korean economic cooperation projects, said a shuttle bus carrying 30 company officials departed from Seoul Monday morning. The official said the bus then crossed the inter-Korean border to arrive at the Gaesong industrial complex in the afternoon and returned to Seoul in the evening.

Hyundai Asan had originally planned to provide two daily shuttle bus trips. However, the firm said it had decided to operate only one trial bus service per day, citing unresolved problems involving the time and cost of the round trip.