North Korea has reportedly denied entry to South Korean lawmakers and officials who were to attend an event marking completion of an inter-Korean factory in the North.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul says that Pyongyang failed to invite ten of the three hundred South Korean participants expected to attend the event in Gaesong Tuesday.

Among the ten are ruling Uri Party lawmaker Choi Sung and main opposition Grand National Party member Go Jin-hwa.

Experts say the North's move likely reflects the recent cooling of cross-border ties after the North test-launched missiles in July and the South halted humanitarian aid to Pyongyang.