By Chung Min-uck
With the third round of inter-Korean working-level talks set for today at the North Korean border city of Gaeseong, skepticism is deepening over whether the two sides will be able to come to terms on restarting operations at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC).
North Korea's propaganda website Uriminzokkiri (between our people) stated on Sunday that South Korea is to blame for the failure of the shut-down of the GIC.
"If the South had not conducted joint military drills with the U.S. and, particularly, had not denounced our intention of the Gaeseong operation as to merely earning dollars, the complex would have continued running," ran a statement on the website. "So, the South must first come up with safeguards before asking us to do so."
Seoul, in previous talks, insisted on strong safeguards implemented by the North to prevent another work stoppage in the future, while, Pyongyang called for an immediate resumption of operations once all preparations have been completed.
Given that the opposing stances are like that of a blame game, the widespread view is that it will be hard for the two sides to find a compromise in the upcoming negotiations, deemed crucial in determining whether the complex can reopen, also, whether South and North Korea can lay foundations for a path to reconciliation.
In an unusual move, the North, on Saturday, disclosed its statement sent to Seoul two days ago when offering talks for the reopening of other inter-Korean programs including: civilian tours to North Korea's Mt. Geumgang and reunions for families separated by the Korean War (1950-53).
Seoul only accepted the family reunion program which immediately led to the North holding off both proposals.
"Unless the GIC issue is resolved, there cannot be any progress in inter-Korean relations," the North said in the statement made public through the official Korean Central News Agency.
However, as of Sunday, Seoul is sticking firm to its position that Pyongyang should come up with strong preventive measures for the operations to resume, according to the Ministry of Unification.
South Korea will be sending a new chief negotiator to Monday's talks, the ministry said. Senior Ministry of Unification director Kim Ki-woong has been named to replace Suh Ho as chief negotiator in what officials said was a routine reshuffle.
The Gaeseong complex, the last remaining symbol of inter-Korean rapprochement, came to a halt in early April in the midst of heightened tensions following the detonation of a nuclear device by the North in February.
Two rounds of talks on the issue so far have failed to produce a compromise only to agree to the principle that the GIC should normalize.
Meanwhile, South Korean businessmen visited Gaeseong for a second consecutive day until Saturday to bring back finished products and raw manufacturing materials based on the agreement reached between the two Koreas earlier.
According to the Unification Ministry, 115 businessmen and workers with 112 vehicles brought back 372 tons worth of finished and half-finished goods.
Also on Friday, personnel from 44 companies using around 100 trucks brought back 145 tons worth of goods.
The visit by South Korean businessmen will continue throughout the week regardless of the results from the working-level meeting.
With the third round of inter-Korean working-level talks set for today at the North Korean border city of Gaeseong, skepticism is deepening over whether the two sides will be able to come to terms on restarting operations at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC).
North Korea's propaganda website Uriminzokkiri (between our people) stated on Sunday that South Korea is to blame for the failure of the shut-down of the GIC.
"If the South had not conducted joint military drills with the U.S. and, particularly, had not denounced our intention of the Gaeseong operation as to merely earning dollars, the complex would have continued running," ran a statement on the website. "So, the South must first come up with safeguards before asking us to do so."
Seoul, in previous talks, insisted on strong safeguards implemented by the North to prevent another work stoppage in the future, while, Pyongyang called for an immediate resumption of operations once all preparations have been completed.
Given that the opposing stances are like that of a blame game, the widespread view is that it will be hard for the two sides to find a compromise in the upcoming negotiations, deemed crucial in determining whether the complex can reopen, also, whether South and North Korea can lay foundations for a path to reconciliation.
In an unusual move, the North, on Saturday, disclosed its statement sent to Seoul two days ago when offering talks for the reopening of other inter-Korean programs including: civilian tours to North Korea's Mt. Geumgang and reunions for families separated by the Korean War (1950-53).
Seoul only accepted the family reunion program which immediately led to the North holding off both proposals.
"Unless the GIC issue is resolved, there cannot be any progress in inter-Korean relations," the North said in the statement made public through the official Korean Central News Agency.
However, as of Sunday, Seoul is sticking firm to its position that Pyongyang should come up with strong preventive measures for the operations to resume, according to the Ministry of Unification.
South Korea will be sending a new chief negotiator to Monday's talks, the ministry said. Senior Ministry of Unification director Kim Ki-woong has been named to replace Suh Ho as chief negotiator in what officials said was a routine reshuffle.
The Gaeseong complex, the last remaining symbol of inter-Korean rapprochement, came to a halt in early April in the midst of heightened tensions following the detonation of a nuclear device by the North in February.
Two rounds of talks on the issue so far have failed to produce a compromise only to agree to the principle that the GIC should normalize.
Meanwhile, South Korean businessmen visited Gaeseong for a second consecutive day until Saturday to bring back finished products and raw manufacturing materials based on the agreement reached between the two Koreas earlier.
According to the Unification Ministry, 115 businessmen and workers with 112 vehicles brought back 372 tons worth of finished and half-finished goods.
Also on Friday, personnel from 44 companies using around 100 trucks brought back 145 tons worth of goods.
The visit by South Korean businessmen will continue throughout the week regardless of the results from the working-level meeting.
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