Since North Korea started threatening military action after South Korea joined the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which itself followed the second North Korean nuclear test, interest has come to rest on whether or not the Kaesong Industrial Complex can keep operating.
Cheon Hae Sung, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification said on the 28th in a daily press briefing, “The administration will cope with North Korea’s threats in a calm and consistent manner. Our unchanged stance is to continue to stably develop the Complex.”
With the exception of Kaesong and its surrounds, nobody from South Korea has visited North Korea since the nuclear test.
However, according to the Ministry of Unification press briefing on Friday, the 29th, “Communications between our maritime authorities are in working order. They communicated three times yesterday; North Korean maritime authorities applied for permission to navigate South Korean waters.” She continued, “North Korean ships are presently operating as normal along the inter-Korean maritime lane; two North Korean ships are in South Korean waters.”
However, considering the aggressive measures that North Korea has put in place against South Korea recently, and that the Kaesong Complex is located in North Korean territory where Seoul’s political and military influence does not reach, the Ministry is concerned that the Kaesong Complex is basically a hostage.
Therefore, if a military collision between the North and the South were to occur in the West Sea, no one could guarantee the safety of South Korean workers in the Kaesong Complex.
As a consequence, the South Korean government is in a dilemma, stuck between the continuing operation of the Kaesong Complex and the safety of the workers therein.
In addition, any negative actions on the part of South Korea could seriously endanger the wellbeing of Mr. Yoo, the Hyundai Asan employee still in North Korean detention in Kaesong.
As of Friday, South Korean recommendations are that entrepreneurs reduce their number of staff in Kaesong while educating the remainder on important security issues and, since the 25th nuclear test, defer visits to areas of North Korea beyond Kaesong.
