ID :
60869
Sat, 05/16/2009 - 18:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60869
The shortlink copeid
U.S. depicts as unhelpful N. Korea`s threat to cancel Kaesong agreements
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- The United States Friday described as unhelpful
North Korea's threat to cancel all agreements on wages, rent and taxes with South
Korean firms operating in the joint industrial complex at Kaesong.
"We have seen reports that North Korea may cancel the contracts at the Kaesong
industrial complex," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters. "Such a
precipitous action by North Korea would be unhelpful and a step in the wrong
direction. The U.S. supports dialogue between North Korea and South Korea, which
is in the interests of all concerned."
Earlier in the day, North Korea said it will nullify all the agreements on the
preferential treatment given to South Korean firms in the North's border-town
industrial park, noting it has no intention of providing such favors due to the
conservative South Korean government's failure to abide by the inter-Korean
rapprochement agreement signed June 15, 2000.
The agreement paved the way for the building of the Kaesong complex, which
accommodates more than 100 South Korean firms employing about 39,000 North
Koreans; the inter-Korean tour program at the North's Geumgang Mountain in the
eastern coast; and several other economic cooperation programs.
The mountain tour project was suspended last year when a South Korean tourist was
shot to death by a North Korean soldier in the resort.
South Korea called for an apology and joint investigation of the case, which was
rejected by the North.
Another tour project in the North's medieval capital city of Kaesong has also
been suspended due to worsening inter-Korean ties since the launch of the Lee
administration.
Lee's liberal predecessors, Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung, had provided 500,000
tons of food and 400,000 tons of fertilizer to the North annually virtually
without any conditions. But the Lee government suspended aid due to the North's
nuclear weapons programs.
The joint industrial complex is the only operating inter-Korean project under the
2000 agreement signed by Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
North Korea said any South Korean firms should leave unless they intend to sign
new agreements for a significant raise in wages, rent and taxes.
The North's threat, however, is seen by many as more brinkmanship to leverage the
South in the face of economic sanctions after its April 5 rocket launch. The U.N.
Security Council slapped sanctions on three North Korean firms for their
involvement in the trade of missiles and other weapons of mass destruction and
their parts.
Each North Korean employee in the Kaesong complex gets about US$70 per month,
bringing the North about $30 million every year.
The payment is made not to the employees directly but to the North Korean
government, spawning concerns that the money might be funneled to the North's
nuclear and missile programs.
In defiance of the U.N. sanctions, North Korea also threatened to boycott the
six-party talks on ending its nuclear programs, conduct further nuclear and
missile tests and restart its nuclear facilities being disabled under a six-party
deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, said Thursday, "We are not
concerned about chasing after North Korea, about offering concessions to North
Korea," although she added, "We intend to continue with the six-party process."
In its most recent threat, North Korea said last week it is useless to engage in
dialogue with the U.S. due to its "hostile policy," and reconfirmed its pledge to
bolster its nuclear deterrent against a possible attack from the U.S. and its
allies.
Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, just
concluded a tour of Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo to discuss ways to persuade the
North to return to the multilateral talks.
While touring the Asian capitals, Bosworth reiterated Washington's pledge to
engage the North both bilaterally and through the six-party talks, calling on
Pyongyang to come back to the talks.
Clinton Thursday called for patience.
"We are united in our belief that we have to be patient," she said, "We have to
be very clear as to what our expectations regarding North Korea are."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- The United States Friday described as unhelpful
North Korea's threat to cancel all agreements on wages, rent and taxes with South
Korean firms operating in the joint industrial complex at Kaesong.
"We have seen reports that North Korea may cancel the contracts at the Kaesong
industrial complex," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters. "Such a
precipitous action by North Korea would be unhelpful and a step in the wrong
direction. The U.S. supports dialogue between North Korea and South Korea, which
is in the interests of all concerned."
Earlier in the day, North Korea said it will nullify all the agreements on the
preferential treatment given to South Korean firms in the North's border-town
industrial park, noting it has no intention of providing such favors due to the
conservative South Korean government's failure to abide by the inter-Korean
rapprochement agreement signed June 15, 2000.
The agreement paved the way for the building of the Kaesong complex, which
accommodates more than 100 South Korean firms employing about 39,000 North
Koreans; the inter-Korean tour program at the North's Geumgang Mountain in the
eastern coast; and several other economic cooperation programs.
The mountain tour project was suspended last year when a South Korean tourist was
shot to death by a North Korean soldier in the resort.
South Korea called for an apology and joint investigation of the case, which was
rejected by the North.
Another tour project in the North's medieval capital city of Kaesong has also
been suspended due to worsening inter-Korean ties since the launch of the Lee
administration.
Lee's liberal predecessors, Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung, had provided 500,000
tons of food and 400,000 tons of fertilizer to the North annually virtually
without any conditions. But the Lee government suspended aid due to the North's
nuclear weapons programs.
The joint industrial complex is the only operating inter-Korean project under the
2000 agreement signed by Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
North Korea said any South Korean firms should leave unless they intend to sign
new agreements for a significant raise in wages, rent and taxes.
The North's threat, however, is seen by many as more brinkmanship to leverage the
South in the face of economic sanctions after its April 5 rocket launch. The U.N.
Security Council slapped sanctions on three North Korean firms for their
involvement in the trade of missiles and other weapons of mass destruction and
their parts.
Each North Korean employee in the Kaesong complex gets about US$70 per month,
bringing the North about $30 million every year.
The payment is made not to the employees directly but to the North Korean
government, spawning concerns that the money might be funneled to the North's
nuclear and missile programs.
In defiance of the U.N. sanctions, North Korea also threatened to boycott the
six-party talks on ending its nuclear programs, conduct further nuclear and
missile tests and restart its nuclear facilities being disabled under a six-party
deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, said Thursday, "We are not
concerned about chasing after North Korea, about offering concessions to North
Korea," although she added, "We intend to continue with the six-party process."
In its most recent threat, North Korea said last week it is useless to engage in
dialogue with the U.S. due to its "hostile policy," and reconfirmed its pledge to
bolster its nuclear deterrent against a possible attack from the U.S. and its
allies.
Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, just
concluded a tour of Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo to discuss ways to persuade the
North to return to the multilateral talks.
While touring the Asian capitals, Bosworth reiterated Washington's pledge to
engage the North both bilaterally and through the six-party talks, calling on
Pyongyang to come back to the talks.
Clinton Thursday called for patience.
"We are united in our belief that we have to be patient," she said, "We have to
be very clear as to what our expectations regarding North Korea are."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
