Imports of North Korean sand to the South remain unaffected although the Seoul government is believed to have prepared step-by-step sanctions on the North. The preparation of sanctions is part of the probe into the fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist at the North's Mount Geumgang resort.

An official said sand imports from the North Korean areas of Haeju and Goseong continue as usual.

Some eight-point-six million tons of North Korean sand was imported in the year's first half. For the whole of last year, the amount was 23-point-six million tons, worth about 35 million dollars.