The Ministry of Unification on Wednesday rejected the opposition Democratic Labor Party's request for permission to visit North Korea.

A ministry spokesman said the ministry rejected the request as it believes the visit should be postponed until a proper time in consideration of strained inter-Korean relations.

The official said the ministry was willing to grant permission if the party sent around ten people, but the opposition party insisted on sending more.

The Democratic Labor Party had requested the government allow 51 party leaders and officials to visit the North for five days from Friday on the invitation of the Korean Social Democratic Party, one of North Korea's three political parties.