North Korea has withdrawn several of its officials from an inter-Korean economic cooperation office in its border city of Gaesong.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul said the North on Friday notified the South that it will recall two to three officials out of the nine working at the joint facility.

A ministry official said that with the move, a government-level meeting is unlikely soon, but that talks on private-level economic cooperation are expected to continue as officials of the North's National Economic Cooperation Federation remain at the office.

The official also downplayed a negative impact on key inter-Korean projects, including an inter-Korean industrial complex and the Mount Geumgang tours, as they are operated through a separate channel.

The office was set up in October last year to support direct negotiations between the two Koreas, as well as promote cross-border investment.

Pyongyang's withdrawal of officials is seen as its second attempt to protest Seoul's suspension of rice and fertilizer aid, following the North's missile tests earlier this month.