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Buildings in the Kaesong Complex light up after electricity provided by an electrical substation in Munsan

South Korean electricity was supplied on Aug. 14 to a building in the Kaesong Industrial Region (Kaesong Complex) that houses an inter-Korean joint liaison office set to office shortly.

The electricity supplied to the building, which formerly housed the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation consultation office, represented only the necessary amount for operation of the joint office. The supply was intended as a test ahead of the office’s opening and is unconnected to a resumption of operations at the Kaesong Complex.

The supply of South Korean electricity to the region is the first in the two years and six months since the complex’s full-scale shutdown in Feb. 2016. South and North Korea are currently carrying out the final renovation efforts on the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation consultation office building to be used for the joint liaison office.

“In the past, we used a small generator to supply electricity for the renovation effort, but in view of cost and efficiency issues, we began distributing a limited amount of electricity as of this afternoon,” a Ministry of Unification senior official said on Aug. 14.

“The electricity for the inter-Korean joint liaison office is intended to guarantee the office’s operation and the convenience of South Korean workers and is not a case of electricity being supplied to North Korea,” the official stressed.

The grid used for the test supply of electricity on Aug. 14 was the same one used during the Kaesong Complex’s past operation. Because of the complex’s disuse and sanctions against North Korea, the South Korean government originally considered bringing in generator equipment and oil to produce its own electricity on site as needed for the joint office’s operation. But in view of the large costs and the potential for unnecessary controversy over the oil’s possible diversion during the stockpiling process, the decision was reportedly made to supply electricity for the joint office through a power distribution network in which the South sends the necessary power directly to the site. With an exemption to North Korea sanctions previously granted for the office’s renovation effort, the government concluded the electricity distribution method would not raise any issues.

“We have sharing the situation closely and consulting with the relevant countries to ensure there are no concerns raised about North Korea sanctions,” a Ministry of Unification senior official said.

By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

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