North and South Korea hold first talks since purge of Kim’s uncle

The two Koreas on Thursday held their first meeting since the shock execution of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle, resuming talks about a joint industrial park as concerns rise over instability in Pyongyang.

The last round of such talks took place in September when the Kaesong industrial zone, just over the border in North Korea, reopened after military tensions caused a five-month closure.

“We will review the implementation of what has been agreed and carry out tasks concerning the development of the Kaesong industrial complex,” South Korea’s chief delegate Kim Ki-woong told journalists before crossing the border.

Later Thursday, a foreign delegation including G20 ministers was also due to tour the Kaesong park as South Korea solicits outside investors, hoping their involvement would prevent North Korea shuttering the facility in future.

The foreign delegation includes vice finance ministers from the world’s 20 leading economies as well as officials from the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank who were visiting Seoul for a conference.

The activity comes after the stunning purge last week of the young leader’s uncle and one-time political mentor, Jang Song-thaek. The United States and South Korea have expressed concern that the purge indicates high-level instability in the opaque regime.