The Unification Ministry will work to completely block any attempts to bring in North Korean products via a third country.

The ministry is planning to conduct on-site inspections at customs offices in Incheon, Pyeongtaek and Busan in cooperation with other government agencies to crack down on illegal imports of North Korean products.

The Unification Ministry will soon finalize a detailed schedule for the inspections.

The Korea Customs Service has already strengthened its own customs clearance inspections on items like hard coal, bracken and clams which had been frequently imported from North Korea.

The South Korean government banned inter-Korean trade on May 24th, two months after the “Cheonan” naval vessel sank in late March due to an apparent torpedo attack by North Korea.