SEOUL — South Korea said Wednesday that it will shut down a joint industrial park with North Korea in response to its recent rocket launch, accusing the North of using hard currency from the park to develop its nuclear and missile programs.

The decision to end operations at the industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, the last major cooperation project between the rival countries, comes after North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Sunday that was considered by other nations to be a banned missile technology test.

By closing the complex, President Park Geun-hye has done something her conservative predecessor resisted, even after two attacks blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans in 2010.

It is among the strongest punitive measures available to her.

Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said at a news conference that the suspension of operations at the park would stop the North from using currency earned there to develop nuclear and missile technology.

The park, which started producing goods in 2004, has provided $560 million of cash to impoverished North Korea, Hong said.

There was no immediate reaction to the move from North Korea.

Associated Press