South Korea Warns of Necessary Steps if North Korea Continues Unauthorized Use of Joint Industrial Complex
(MENAFN) South Korea has warned that it will take "necessary steps" if North Korea continues its unauthorized use of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint industrial venture once seen as a symbol of reconciliation between the two Koreas. The complex, located in North Korea, was home to more than 50,000 North Korean workers who produced goods for over 125 South Korean companies.
Seoul pulled out of the venture in 2016 in response to North Korea's nuclear test and missile launches, citing the profits from Kaesong were being used to fund the provocations. However, the North has continued to use the facility and its South Korean-owned assets without permission, according to Seoul's unification ministry.
The announcement came after North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper released photos of what appeared to be a South Korean bus once used to carry workers to the complex running in Pyongyang. South Korea's liaison office sent a notice demanding that activity at the factory complex cease, but North Korea refused to accept it.
The continued operation of the facilities "regardless of the will of the businessmen is a clear violation of property rights" and the two Koreas' agreement on investment guarantees, Seoul's notice said, according to the ministry.
The Kaesong Industrial Complex was launched in the wake of the 2000 inter-Korean summit, aimed at promoting cooperation and economic development between the two Koreas. The complex initially flourished, but tensions began to rise in 2013 when the North withdrew its workers amid rising tensions over the South's joint military exercises with the United States.
Despite the tensions, the South Korean government has repeatedly expressed its willingness to reopen the complex as a means of improving inter-Korean relations. However, the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and repeated missile tests has remained a major stumbling block to any meaningful progress.
The latest development underscores the ongoing tensions between the two Koreas, despite recent attempts at diplomacy and dialogue. The issue of the Kaesong Industrial Complex is likely to remain a contentious issue as long as the North continues to use the facility without permission.
South Korea's warning of "necessary steps" could signal a more assertive approach to dealing with the North, which has been accused of violating past agreements and engaging in provocative behavior. The international community will be watching closely to see how the situation develops, and whether the ongoing tensions can be resolved peacefully.
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