South Korea urges North to lift Kaesong access ban
North Korea has not prevented anyone leaving Kaesong, and 40 South Koreans were set to cross back into the South on Monday, leaving 514 still in the complex.
|Last Updated: Apr 08, 2013, 09:23 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Seoul: South Korea on Monday issued another appeal for North Korea to lift an access ban on the Kaesong joint industrial park, which has already forced a dozen South Korean firms to halt operations.
"We urge the North again to immediately lift the ban ... and to change its course to help resume normal operations in Kaesong," Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-Suk told reporters.
The last remaining symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, Kaesong has become a pawn in an increasingly dangerous game of brinkmanship among Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington.
The North has banned South Korean managers and personnel from crossing the border to enter the complex -- 10 kilometres (six miles) inside North Korea -- since Wednesday last week.
So far, 13 the 123 South Korean firms operating there have been forced to halt production due to fuel and raw material shortages.
With no additional staff, fuel or other materials allowed into the estate, dozens of other firms are expected to shut down this week, said Ok Sung-Suk, a spokesman for the South Korean firms.
"Things couldn`t be more miserable for us, being unable to visit our plants only five minutes away," Ok told reporters at the border crossing.
Food and fuel supplies are "nearly bottoming out", Ok said, adding that shipment delays were resulting in order cancellations by worried clients.
North Korea has not prevented anyone leaving Kaesong, and 40 South Koreans were set to cross back into the South on Monday, leaving 514 still in the complex.
About 53,000 North Korean workers produce goods ranging from shoes to watches at factories in Kaesong, which was built in 2004 as a rare symbol of cross-border economic cooperation.
Neither side has allowed previous crises to significantly affect the complex, a crucial hard currency source for the impoverished North and seen as a bellwether for stability on the Korean peninsula.
Tensions have been running high after a recent series of apocalyptic threats from the North in response to fresh UN sanctions imposed after it staged a long-range rocket launch and a third nuclear test.
AFP
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.