The government has decided to withdraw all South Korean workers from the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea.

In a nationally-televised news conference on Friday, Seoul’s Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae announced the measure, saying that the withdrawal is an unavoidable option for the South.

The Unification Minister also stressed that the North’s entry ban on South Korea’s attempt to send food and medicine to the factory park is unjustifiable.

He also urged the North to take thorough measures to guarantee the safe return of South Koreans and to respect the South Korean companies’ property rights to its facilities at the complex.

He pledged the pan-governmental support for firms and factories at the complex to normalize business activities of the companies.

Earlier in the day, North Korea rejected South Korea’s proposal to hold talks, calling the invitation a mockery. North Korea's National Defense Commission said in a statement that it may pursue final, decisive, and grave measures before the South takes action concerning the halted operations at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.

North Korean media also said that if the South is concerned about the safety of South Korean workers at the complex, it should withdraw all of its workers from the North. While stressing that its future course of action depends on Seoul's attitude on the issue, the North also said that it will guarantee the South Korean workers’ safe return home.

The statement was in response to Seoul’s ultimatum for working-level talks issued on Thursday, which listed a condition calling for Pyongyang to respond to the invitation by Friday noon.