Why is N. Korea still keeping 7 S. Korean workers at Kaesong?

Posted on : 2013-05-01 16:39 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Whether or not the industrial complex can avoid a complete shutdown may indicate the future of inter-Korean relations
 a representative of the Corporate Association of Gaesong Complex looks down at the ground on the south side of the Unification Bridge that leads to the Kaesong Industrial Complex from Paju
a representative of the Corporate Association of Gaesong Complex looks down at the ground on the south side of the Unification Bridge that leads to the Kaesong Industrial Complex from Paju

By Kim Kyu-won, staff reporter

With South Korea pulling nearly all of its workers out of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, all eyes are turning to the remaining seven and the potential role they might play in inter-Korean relations.

North Korea has not yet allowed them to return, citing practical administrative concerns. But the significance of their continued presence could be greater than that. The South Korean government is watching closely to see what North Korea does next.

The seven South Koreans remaining at the complex as of Apr. 30 were five officials of the South Korean management committee for the complex, including chairman Hong Yang-ho, and two KT employees. The “practical administrative issues” cited in their continued presence involved calculating unpaid March wages and taxes. North Korea is reportedly demanding over US$10 million, a larger amount that the initially stated figure of US$7 million to US$8 million.

“The seven-to-eight million dollar amount is equivalent to one month’s wages,” explained a South Korean government official. “They’re also demanding quite a bit in taxes on top of that, as well as communications and water charges.”

Seoul is intent on getting the seven home as quickly as possible. A delay in their return could lead to anxiety back home - as well as souring public opinion.

But officials and experts believe the reason for North Korea’s delaying their return goes deeper than administrative concerns. South Korea’s joint Foal Eagle exercises with the US military - a continued target of denunciations from Pyongyang -- ended on Apr. 30, and President Park Geun-hye is scheduled to have a summit meeting with US President Barack Obama on May 7.

“North Korea doesn’t want the Kaesong complex shut down completely,” said another government official. “They may view the seven people as a way of keeping the possibility of dialogue alive.”

An academic observer agreed, saying the reason for the delay “may be that they want to keep the dialogue channel open.”

Meanwhile, Pyongyang continued insisting that South Korea would be to blame if the complex shut down. The Minju Choson, the newspaper for the North Korean Cabinet, was reported by the Korean Central News Agency as saying that the “[Korean] people will never forgive [South Korea] if it destroys even the Kaesong Industrial Zone.” The comments could be taken as hinting that North Korea doesn’t want to see the complex completely closed down.

The South Korean government continued treading lightly on the controversial issue of interrupting the complex’s electricity and water supplies An official said there were no plans to do so “until the South Korean workers are all home,” but suggested that it might happen if the situation drags out into the long term.

“We couldn’t really leave it unattended for a long time because of security issues,” the official said.

Kim Yeon-chul, a professor at Inje University, said the electricity issue would be “the real test” of whether the complex closes down for good.

“If there are security issues, then we will need to begin having dialogue toward getting the complex moving again while there is still an electricity supply,” he said.

 

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