Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Seoul to lends NK help to prevent MERS at inter-Korean industrial park
By Yi Whan-woo
Seoul plans to help Pyongyang prevent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) from spreading at Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC).
South Korean enterprises will supply masks to their North Korean employees at the inter-Korean industrial park in North Korea’s border city, the Ministry of Unification said on Friday.
The ministry, which deals with inter-Korean affairs, said Thursday it would set up three thermal scanners at the GIC next week following Pyongyang’s request on June 2.
“It will be up to the firms running business there to provide masks to their North Korean workers,” a ministry official said on condition of anonymity. “The thermal scanners will be handed over to the North Korean side by Monday through appropriate procedures.”
A South Korean entrepreneur said, “There’s no reason to hesitate in providing masks,” adding that such help was expected to reduce concerns over health risks.
A group of 124 South Korean firms running plants at the complex plans to hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of supplying masks.
The government offered three thermal scanners to the reclusive state last year when fear of the deadly Ebola virus swept the world.
North Korea has been sensitive about the spread of contagious diseases due to its fragile health system. The impoverished regime kept its high-ranking officials who traveled overseas under quarantine last year in an attempt to contain Ebola.
The reclusive state also banned foreigners from entering the country for health-security reasons.
MERS, a respiratory illness, has killed four people in South Korea since its outbreak in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in late May.