Seoul opposes early resumption of suspended inter-Korean industrial zone

By Park Sae-jin Posted : February 10, 2017, 14:06 Updated : February 10, 2017, 14:06

A file picture shows a suspended inter-Korean industrial zone in North Korea's border city of Kaesong.[Namgung Jin-woong = timeid@ajunews.com]


South Korea shrugged off any irresponsible debate Friday on the reopening of an inter-Korean industrial zone which was shut down a year ago at the height of international criticism of North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear tests.

The closure of the Kaesong joint industry complex, a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation and reconciliation, on February 10 last year has played a crucial role in mustering international cooperation in sanctioning the nuclear-armed North, the South's unification ministry said.

"We can reasonably assume that it has dealt a heavy blow to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," Jeong Joon-hee, a ministry spokesman, told a news conference marking the first anniversary of Kaesong's closure.

It's no easy for Seoul to change its policy regarding Kaesong, he said, citing Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.

The zone has become a political issue among presidential hopefuls in the race to succeed President Park Geun-hye who is on trial at the constitutional court over a corruption scandal involving her crony, Choi Soon-sil.

Kaesong, which hosted about 120 South Korean firms in a complex just north of the inter-Korean border, was considered a rare legitimate source of hard currency for the impoverished North which earned more than $100 million annually in wages earned by 54,000 workers in the zone.

Seoul has accused Pyongyang of diverting income earned in the zone to leader's luxury life or weapons development.
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