hankyoreh

located in Gyeonggi Province

South Korean staff returned to work at the Consultation Office for the North-South Economic Cooperation in Kaesong (Gaeseong) Monday. The office had been closed by North Korea on Dec. 1. All restrictions placed on Dec.1 have been normalized. North Korea had informed South Korea on Aug. 20 that it would lift all bans pertaining to limitations on exit and entry and stay at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, reopen the office, and resume train service between Panmun and Paju stations.

Spokesman Chun hae-sung said at a regular press briefing, “Our staff working at the office crossed the border between the two Koreas and departed for Kaesong today at 9:00 a.m.” Thirteen South Korean staff, including Director Yoo Jong-Ryol and other government officials and private sector personnel, work at the office. One of the officials also works in Seoul and is responsible for contacts with the Kaesong office.

“Six North Korean staff, including Director Rang Ki-Gun, will work in the office together with South Korean staff,” the Ministry of Unification said. The office was open on Oct. 2005, and has served as a window for discussion and intermediation between South Korean businessmen engaged in economic cooperation projects in North Korea. The office has also played a role of serving as a window for dialogue between North and South Korean authorities.

The number of vehicles’ passing across the border of the two Koreas has been allowed to resume and has seen an increase in runs up to 23 times from 6 times a day since Sep. 1. North Korea had previously placed a limit on the number of persons to 250, and cars to 150. In addition, restrictions on stay in the Kaesong Industrial Complex were lifted on the same day. North Korea had previously restricted the number of persons qualified to stay at the complex to 880 persons.

Meanwhile, it seems more time is necessary for railroad service to be normalized because South Korean authorities are saying that they will make their decisions based on the numbers of containers needed to travel to Kaesong.

South Korea is also remaining steadfast on not permitting tourist projects in Kaesong to resume until North Korea provides a guarantee for tourists’ safety.

Meanwhile, although the shut down of the military communication line in the Yellow Sea district was not included in the Dec.1 bans and North Korea had cut it off due to technical problems in May, 2008, it has also been restored as of Sept. 2.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]