ID :
60831
Sat, 05/16/2009 - 05:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60831
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea declares all contracts on inter-Korean industrial zone void+
N. Korea declares all contracts on inter-Korean industrial zone void+
SEOUL, May 15 Kyodo -
North Korea told South Korea Friday it is declaring all contracts on a joint
industrial zone in the North's border town of Kaesong void, the South's
Unification Ministry said, calling the move ''unacceptable'' and
''irresponsible.''
''The North sent a message unilaterally declaring void all contracts on land
use, wages and taxes regarding Kaesong,'' the ministry's spokesman Kim Ho Nyoun
said at a press briefing.
Kim expressed ''deep regret'' about the North Korea's move that is said
''threatens the stable operation of the Kaesong industrial complex and thus the
measure is unacceptable.''
The spokesman further called the North Korean move ''a very irresponsible act''
and said it ''will be held accountable for all the consequences if it
unilaterally implements it.''
''The North is strongly urged to drop its unjust attitude and retract the
declaration on nullifying related rules and contracts,'' he said, while also
calling on Pyongyang to accept Seoul's offer for talks on the operation of the
industrial zone.
Earlier Friday, South Korea sent a message to the North, proposing formal talks
on the industrial zone be held next Monday.
North and South Korea failed to arrange talks on the industrial zone this week
over differences on agenda and timing.
The two Koreas held the first round of talks on the industrial zone in April in
Kaesong, in which the North demanded South Korean firms raise wages for North
Korean workers and also start paying for land use from next year, four years
ahead of schedule.
At the April talks, South Korea demanded North Korea release a South Korean
worker detained by the North since March 30, for allegedly making critical
remarks about the North.
South Korea also wants the issue of the detained South Korean be discussed at
the sought-after talks, but the North is refusing to take up the issue, saying
the talks are only on the industrial zone.
The joint industrial zone opened in December 2004 as a major project of
inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation that resulted from a landmark
summit in 2000 between then South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and North
Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
It houses more than 100 South Korean firms that are producing clothes,
utensils, electronics equipment and other labor-intensive products with nearly
40,000 North Korean workers.
Inter-Korean relations have chilled since conservative President Lee Myung Bak
took office in February last year.
==Kyodo
SEOUL, May 15 Kyodo -
North Korea told South Korea Friday it is declaring all contracts on a joint
industrial zone in the North's border town of Kaesong void, the South's
Unification Ministry said, calling the move ''unacceptable'' and
''irresponsible.''
''The North sent a message unilaterally declaring void all contracts on land
use, wages and taxes regarding Kaesong,'' the ministry's spokesman Kim Ho Nyoun
said at a press briefing.
Kim expressed ''deep regret'' about the North Korea's move that is said
''threatens the stable operation of the Kaesong industrial complex and thus the
measure is unacceptable.''
The spokesman further called the North Korean move ''a very irresponsible act''
and said it ''will be held accountable for all the consequences if it
unilaterally implements it.''
''The North is strongly urged to drop its unjust attitude and retract the
declaration on nullifying related rules and contracts,'' he said, while also
calling on Pyongyang to accept Seoul's offer for talks on the operation of the
industrial zone.
Earlier Friday, South Korea sent a message to the North, proposing formal talks
on the industrial zone be held next Monday.
North and South Korea failed to arrange talks on the industrial zone this week
over differences on agenda and timing.
The two Koreas held the first round of talks on the industrial zone in April in
Kaesong, in which the North demanded South Korean firms raise wages for North
Korean workers and also start paying for land use from next year, four years
ahead of schedule.
At the April talks, South Korea demanded North Korea release a South Korean
worker detained by the North since March 30, for allegedly making critical
remarks about the North.
South Korea also wants the issue of the detained South Korean be discussed at
the sought-after talks, but the North is refusing to take up the issue, saying
the talks are only on the industrial zone.
The joint industrial zone opened in December 2004 as a major project of
inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation that resulted from a landmark
summit in 2000 between then South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and North
Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
It houses more than 100 South Korean firms that are producing clothes,
utensils, electronics equipment and other labor-intensive products with nearly
40,000 North Korean workers.
Inter-Korean relations have chilled since conservative President Lee Myung Bak
took office in February last year.
==Kyodo
