North Korea still appears to be operating facilities at a now-closed joint industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong despite repeated warnings from Seoul against the unauthorized move, Seoul’s Ministry of Unification said on Thursday.
The ministry has “continuously” detected signs that the North is illegally operating facilities at the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the border city of the same name, a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Such signs include buses entering the factory zone and lights on site at night.
Asked whether the government plans to take legal action against such a move, the official said the ministry is reviewing “various measures,” without elaborating.
The comments came a day after Seoul filed a token damages claim against North Korea over the demolition of an inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong. On June 16, 2020, the North blew up the joint office in protest of Seoul’s failure to stop North Korean defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.
The government has requested 44.7 billion won ($35 million) as compensation for losses suffered in southern state assets, stressing that it will continue to hold Pyongyang responsible for any property rights infringement.
However, the official said Seoul respects and remains committed to previous administrations’ efforts for reconciliation in inter-Korean relations, referring to the anniversary of the June 15 Declaration adopted at a landmark summit in 2000 between Korea’s then-president of the South, Kim Dae-jung. and then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/06/103_353023.html
Category: Korea
