North Korea has placed a new official in charge of managing the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.

Kim Il-geun was appointed as the new head of the Central Guidance Bureau for Special Zone Development two months ago, but was not installed in the post until recently.

On Monday, the new chief announced measures which would reduce the number of South Korean staff at the South-North joint industrial complex.

Before taking the post, he chaired the Gaeseong City People’s Committee and was appointed as a delegate to the Supreme People’s Assembly in 2003.

He was among the officials who received former President Roh Moo-hyun at the border in October of last year while on his way to Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Sources familiar with North Korea say Pyongyang’s decision to appoint a prominent official like Kim to the post is not a bad sign for the future of the industrial complex.