6689 South Koreans cross the border into the North last year, statistics provided by the ROK Ministry of Unification (MOU) showed, a major increase compared to 2017 but well short of averages in previous years.

In data recently uploaded by the unification ministry, 809 North Koreans were also reported to have visited the South in 2018 — with a total of 7498 Koreans crossing the line compared to just 115 the previous year.

The figures reflect a year of dramatically-increased inter-Korean engagement, which began with the PyeongChang Olympics in February.

That event saw 473 North Koreans — including a 229-member cheering squad and an art troupe