The operator of tours to North Korea, Hyundai Asan, will withdraw its staff from the North's Mount Geumgang resort in phases.

The decision follows Pyongyang's request to cut South Korean personnel at Geumgang to around 200.

As of Monday, 536 employees reside in the area, 114 of which are South Koreans, including 26 workers from the Hyundai Asan head office.

But the company will keep 26 members of its staff at the mountain resort ― the bare minimum required to maintain facilities. The company plans to withdraw some 300 Korean Chinese contracted employees from Geumgang.