bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

South Korea has proposed "final" talks with the North over the fate of the shuttered Kaesong joint industrial zone, suggesting it may permanently close the estate if the negotiations fail.
The latest offer came after six recent rounds of talks aimed at reviving the Seoul-invested complex in North Korea produced few signs of progress.
"We are offering the final talks to discuss the issue (of Kaesong)," said Ryoo Kihl-Jae, Seoul's unification minister in charge of cross-border affairs.
Seoul would send a formal proposal across the border today, he said, without elaborating on when the talks would be held.
The Kaesong complex, built in 2004 as a rare symbol of cooperation, survived previous crises.
But it eventually became the most high-profile casualty of two months of elevated tensions after a nuclear test by the North in February which sparked international condemnation.
Production at the estate, 10 kilometres over the border, has been suspended since North Korea withdrew its 53,000 workers from the zone in April.
Ryoo reiterated that the South wants the North to accept responsibility for what Seoul insists was the unilateral closure of Kaesong by Pyongyang and give a written guarantee that it will never happen again.
"Otherwise, we will be left with no choice but to make a grave decision to prevent even bigger damages on our companies in the future," he said.
The North has said it was not responsible for the shutdown, arguing that its hand was forced by hostile South Korean actions and intimidation - in particular, a series of joint military exercises with the United States.
Meanwhile, in an apparent gesture to lure Pyongyang to a fresh round of negotiations, Ryoo said Seoul would approve five shipments of humanitarian aid for the North worth 1.4 billion won (HK$9.7 million).
The latest sixth round of talks held on Thursday ended in a bitter mood, with no date set for another meeting and the North's officials accusing their Seoul counterparts of being "arrogant".


Will Chinese tourists return to North Korea as travel resumes in December?

North Korea scraps all economic cooperation with South in further blow to inter-Korea ties

North Korea blames Covid-19 outbreak on ‘alien things’ near South Korea border

Trail running in North Korea could take off after Covid-19, even for foreigners, as country prepares for adventure tourism

Kaesong

South Korea offers final talks on Kaesong joint industrial zone

Ryoo Kihl-jae, South Korea's unification minister, said Seoul will extend a 'final offer' for talks of the suspended industrial complex in North Korea's border town of Kaesong. Photo: EPA 

Shoving match as Korean talks on Kaesong collapse

A South Korean official (centre) tangles with representatives of the North during the scuffle at the Kaesong industrial estate. Photo: AFP

Two South Korean delegates (right) are blocked by North Koreans as the South Korean delegation try to block a press conference by North Korea's head delegate Park Chol-su on Thursday. Photo: AP 

Kim Kiwoong (right) the head of South Korea's working-level delegation, walks with his North Korean counterpart Park Chol-su (left) before their meeting at Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee in Kaesong, North Korea, on Thursday. Photo: AP 

A South Korean delegate (left) is blocked by North Koreans on Thursday. Photo: AP 

Koreas fail to reach deal on jointly-run Kaesong industrial zone

South Korean soldiers stand at a military checkpoint leading to North Korea's Kaesong joint industrial complex, in the border city of Paju early on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Two Koreas discuss normalization of Kaesong complex. Photo: EPA

A South Korean employee working at the Kaesong Industrial Complex inside the North Korean border, is interviewed by a reporter. Photo: Reuters

Two Koreas start fresh talks on joint Kaesong industrial site 

Head of the South Korean delegation Suh Ho at customs office before talks begin with North Korean delegates on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

South Korean vehicles wait to pass customs before entering the Kaesong industrial complex. Photo: Xinhua

News

Asia

Seoul warns that joint industrial complex could shut for good if deadlock remains


South Korea has proposed "final" talks with the North over the fate of the shuttered Kaesong joint industrial zone, suggesting it may permanently close the estate if the negotiations fail.
