The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war

  • 3

    Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets

  • 5

    Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics

  • 7

    CJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineup

  • 9

    Mexico president eyes deals with China, Korea to combat fentanyl

  • 11

    Synth pop regains popularity with K-stars, riding retro boom

  • 13

    ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?

  • 15

    1 in 6 N. Korean children under 5 suffer from stunted growth: report

  • 17

    INTERVIEWKorean chef aims to change Hong Kong's dining scene

  • 19

    US diplomat to visit Korea for anti-proliferation meeting

  • 2

    Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases

  • 4

    Korean culture as the solution

  • 6

    Temples celebrate Buddha's birthday

  • 8

    China, Korea agree to strengthen talks on chip industry: Chinese commerce ministry

  • 10

    Biden says debt default deal 'very close' while deadline now set at June 5

  • 12

    Africa Day celebrated in Korea with book talk

  • 14

    Russia's Lavrov tells China envoy 'serious obstacles' to Ukraine peace

  • 16

    Tech leads more gains on Wall Street

  • 18

    Presidential office denies Japanese news report on Yoon's possible visit to Ukraine

  • 20

    Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, May 29, 2023 | 04:26
Foreign Affairs
N. Korea Scraps Gaeseong Contracts
Posted : 2009-05-15 18:17
Updated : 2009-05-15 18:17
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
North Korea announced Friday the nullification of all contracts on rent, salaries and taxes at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, asking the South to empty the industrial estate unless it honors the North's wishes to amend related laws and rules.

Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun clears his throat before expressing the Lee Myung-bak administration’s regret over the North’s one-sided announcement to nullify all exisiting laws and contracts on the Gaeseong Industrial Complex at the annex hall of the Integrated Government Complex in central Seoul Friday. He said the South will not accept Pyongyang’s unilateral action.
/ Yonhap
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

North Korea announced Friday the nullification of all contracts on rent, salaries and taxes at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, asking the South to empty the industrial estate unless it honors the North's wishes to amend related laws and rules.

The notification came about five hours after the two Koreas were unable to set a date for talks due to their wrangling over the release of a Southern worker detained by the North.

Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoung expressed regret over Pyongyang's one-sided announcement and urged the North to withdraw the demands and engage in dialogue, saying that it won't accept the cancellation of the contracts.

``North Korea has to abandon its unjustifiable attitude and withdraw the announcement,'' he said. ``We call for a prompt response to the inter-Korean talks that we proposed on May 18.''

The statement was made after the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. ``Under the circumstances that the South responded in a confrontational manner, we cannot help but reconsider our stance which has been determined through negotiations,''

The North continued, ``We are nullifying contracts and benefits on rent, salaries and taxes that we have offered in the Gaeseong complex in accordance with the June 15 Joint Declaration.''

The report added that the North will begin to adjust laws and rules to meet with the current situation.

``South Korean companies and officials must accept the notification, if not, they can evacuate from the complex,'' it said.

Pyongyang said the South's ``extreme confrontation policy'' has destroyed the foundation of the industrial park, adding that the future of the complex is up to the South's stance.

About 40,000 North Koreans are working inside the park where more than 100 Southern companies are operating.

Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University and a Korea Times columnist said South Korean authorities now face a dilemma.

``The complex is one of the best things which ever happened in North-South cooperation. It is unlikely that it will be profitable for the South in purely financial terms, and its contribution to local political stability is marginal albeit real,'' he said.

Lankov added, however, the complex is the only place where North and South Koreans work together, and it is also a place where countless encounters lead to the dissemination of knowledge about the South, gradually undermining the North Korean regime and laying foundations for a change in the North.

He advised the South to have clear limits on how far the Seoul government should go in order to save the complex under North Korean pressure.

`` North Koreans are clearly looking for some leverage over the South, and it they come to see the park as a hostage project, they will it use to put forward escalating demands,'' he said.

He predicted, `` If the South Korean government bows to the pressure and makes concessions, there is no doubt that in weeks or months Pyongyang manipulators will make new demands, probably more outrageous.''

``One can hope that the project will survive. Nonetheless, it will become dangerous if Seoul, in trying to save this important project, starts to succumb to Pyongyang's blackmail. So, the project should be supported, at a cost to South Korean taxpayers, but not at the cost of unprincipled political concessions,'' he added.

A government official reiterated that the detainee issue must be discussed for stable development of the complex.

``Family members of businessmen and employees working in the industrial zone are worried about the safety of their fathers and husbands. Some people have already left companies in the complex,'' he told reporters on condition of anonymity.

A 44-year-old man identified as Yoo was detained late March for ``derogatory'' comments on the North Korean regime and for allegedly attempting to entice a North Korean female to defect.

The North has refused to grant the worker a meeting with South Korean officials and attorneys.

Professor Yang Moo-jin at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told The Korea Times that if the South changes its stance toward the detainee issue, the North would respond.

``What matters is whether or not to put the issue on the table during the talks. Unless the South drops its request, the meeting will not take place,'' he said.

In an apparent attempt to use the inter-Korean talks to pressure the Lee Myung-bak administration, ``North Korea is seemingly trying to avoid the issue,'' he said.

The expert, instead, suggested that the South should pursue a ``two-track approach'' to end the deadlock.

``Discussions on the detainee issue and the operation of the industrial zone should take place at the same time. But it is necessary to solve the detainee issue separately,'' he said.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry? ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?
2Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flightMan arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight
3Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards
4Korea walks fine line between US, China in chip warKorea walks fine line between US, China in chip war
5Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows Jeju-based shamanism researcher documents connection between humans, crows
6Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products Hyundai Steel receives EPD certification for low-carbon H-beam products
7POSCO named sustainability champion for 2nd consecutive year POSCO named sustainability champion for 2nd consecutive year
8[RAS KOREA] Preserving memories at Cheongju City Archives RAS KOREAPreserving memories at Cheongju City Archives
9Gov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit GuamGov't moves to assist 3,400 Koreans stranded in typhoon-hit Guam
10Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture Half of medical tourists visiting Korea inspired by K-culture
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful' Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful'
2Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases
3[INTERVIEW] 'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time' INTERVIEW'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time'
4Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show
5Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group