A Unification Ministry official in Seoul says one South Korean company doing business at North Korea's Gaeseong Industrial Complex has partially suspended operations.

The official says the company on May 17th ordered 500 of its 850 workers to take mandatory leave.

The official says the measure is likely due to a decrease in orders and is not related to the South Korean government's response measures to North Korea's sinking of the “Cheonan” warship.

The official added that a number of South Korean firms at the complex are struggling.

The ministry noted that of the 121 firms at the Gaeseong park, 32 do not have an insurance policy on inter-Korean economic projects.