The Ministry of Unification has issued a statement refuting claims circulating in some South Korean media that it allegedly requested that the Kaesong Industrial Complex continue operations on a diminished scale rather than a complete shutdown in February last year.
“Claims that the Ministry of Unification opposed the closing of the Kaesong Complex and requested the South Korean government to run it at a reduced scale are not true,” Lee Deok Haeng (a spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification) reported during a regular briefing on March 29.
“The decision to completely close the complex was made following normal procedures including close cooperation between the relevant ministries and the National Security Council (NSC).”
Some media outlets have quoted several government officials alleging that the Ministry of Unification argued against the complete shutdown of the Kaesong Complex, but that the government overruled the position.
The officials cited in the reports allegedly said, “The Ministry had no choice because the upper levels of government were pressuring it. The order to completely close the Complex was issued unilaterally by the upper bodies,” suggesting that the closure of the complex was a heated topic.
In addition, media reports claim that companies in the Kaesong Complex were unable to prepare for the closure in advance due to the abruptness of the decision, suggesting that the policy was pushed through without consultation between the relevant ministries.
In regard to these reports, the Ministry of Unification issued additional comments, stating, “Following North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, the number of residents in the Kaesong Industrial Complex was gradually reduced in consideration of the safety of each individual as a priority. The governmental bodies agreed to firmly respond to North Korea’s repeated provocations immediately after the launch of a long-range missile on February 7. The NSC Standing Committee finally decided to completely close the Complex at 10am on February 10.”
Regarding criticism that companies within the complex were unable to prepare in advance, the Ministry spokesperson said, “It was impractical to consult with the companies beforehand because if the decision was revealed early to the North Korean regime, we may have had difficulty in securing the safe return of all South Korean citizens left behind in Kaesong.”
“North Korea had already taken measures to restrict movement within the Kaesong Complex several times in the past. In 2013, South Korean citizens residing in Kaesong were practically detained due to North Korea’s unilateral suspension of the complex in 2013. Considering these past incidents, the South Korean government determined that it was necessary to delay the announcement of the decision for security reasons,” the ministry spokesperson said.
“The government sought to reduce damage inflicted on the companies by requesting that the North Korean authorities cooperate in exporting the finished products, and set a gradual scheme for withdrawal. However, the plan to pull out finished products and raw materials was unsuccessful because North Korea suddenly closed the complex and banished all South Koreans from it the day after South Korea made the announcement.”
