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2017.06.28
| Won | Pyongyang | Sinuiju | Hyesan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Rate | 8,070 | 8,050 | 8,095 |
| Rice Price | 5,800 | 6,000 | 5,900 |
A 21-person delegation from the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee paid a visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) yesterday, the first such trip since President Park Geun Hye entered office at the end of February. The delegation returned on schedule at 4PM via the inter-Korean immigration office at Paju.
However, the group was not able to meet with North Korean government officials. Instead, they received a briefing on the current situation from KIC support center staff at 10AM, and then met company representatives from four firms in the zone: JY Solutec (metallic molds and car parts), Samdeok Starfield (shoes), SK Apparel (undergarments), and Sinwon (clothing).
“Operations at the complex were at 80% before the shutdown, but the mass exit of buyers has reduced operations to around 30% of capacity. The two Koreas need to give the international community a sense of stability," Kim Hak Gwon, the head of JY Solutec, informed the group.
Most North Korean workers paid little attention to the delegation members as they observed production lines, but when greeted did answer back. Two North Korean women in traditional clothing came out to greet the committee delegation at the Sinwon factory entrance.
The delegation then lunched at a restaurant in Songak Plaza with Han Jae Gwon, the joint chairman of the “Kaesong Complex Normalization Emergency Committee,” and 20 other company managers.
“The North and South Korean governments need to cooperate actively to ensure the long-term stability and development of the complex,” the head of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Ahn Hong Joon, declared. “The National Assembly, businesses, the government and academia need to communicate with each other and develop plans to increase the competitiveness of the complex.”
Han Jae Gwon agreed, saying, “The extended closure of the Complex has led to a lot of lost trust. We will never be able to earn it all back, but need to try to normalize operations as much as possible for the sake of inter-Korean development and our future. I think the North and South Korean governments need to first express their intention to develop the Complex.”
Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Yong Woo noted, “The two Koreas must make real, concrete efforts to internationalize the complex. I would like to see the opening of an investors’ meeting as soon as possible, as well as effort to bring more investment here," while Woo Sang Ho of the Democratic Party added, “The complex will develop considerably with just a little more cooperation. The South Korean government should repeal the May 24th Measures, while Complex competitiveness will grow considerably once we get to the internationalization stage.”
However, the group was not able to meet with North Korean government officials. Instead, they received a briefing on the current situation from KIC support center staff at 10AM, and then met company representatives from four firms in the zone: JY Solutec (metallic molds and car parts), Samdeok Starfield (shoes), SK Apparel (undergarments), and Sinwon (clothing).
“Operations at the complex were at 80% before the shutdown, but the mass exit of buyers has reduced operations to around 30% of capacity. The two Koreas need to give the international community a sense of stability," Kim Hak Gwon, the head of JY Solutec, informed the group.
Most North Korean workers paid little attention to the delegation members as they observed production lines, but when greeted did answer back. Two North Korean women in traditional clothing came out to greet the committee delegation at the Sinwon factory entrance.
The delegation then lunched at a restaurant in Songak Plaza with Han Jae Gwon, the joint chairman of the “Kaesong Complex Normalization Emergency Committee,” and 20 other company managers.
“The North and South Korean governments need to cooperate actively to ensure the long-term stability and development of the complex,” the head of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Ahn Hong Joon, declared. “The National Assembly, businesses, the government and academia need to communicate with each other and develop plans to increase the competitiveness of the complex.”
Han Jae Gwon agreed, saying, “The extended closure of the Complex has led to a lot of lost trust. We will never be able to earn it all back, but need to try to normalize operations as much as possible for the sake of inter-Korean development and our future. I think the North and South Korean governments need to first express their intention to develop the Complex.”
Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Yong Woo noted, “The two Koreas must make real, concrete efforts to internationalize the complex. I would like to see the opening of an investors’ meeting as soon as possible, as well as effort to bring more investment here," while Woo Sang Ho of the Democratic Party added, “The complex will develop considerably with just a little more cooperation. The South Korean government should repeal the May 24th Measures, while Complex competitiveness will grow considerably once we get to the internationalization stage.”
