Mindful of heightened tensions in advance of today’s scheduled artillery exercise on Yeonpyeong Island, the Unification Ministry has prohibited entry into the Kaesong Industrial Complex, initially for one day but with plans to review the situation.
Speaking today, a Unification Ministry spokesperson explained, “With the security of our people in mind given the upsurge in tensions between North and South Korea, the government is prohibiting visits to the Kaesong Industrial Complex by persons related to companies in the Complex on the 20th.”
“In consultation with related departments, for the time being we agreed to impose a limit on visits to the Kaesong Complex for the day of the 20th only,” the spokesperson added, continuing, “We will henceforth watch the situation carefully before deciding on future visits.”
However, the return of those previously residing in the Complex is expected to proceed as normal.
According to Ministry of Unification data, 614 people were originally expected to enter Kaesong today, and 421 to return. In addition, there are a total of 311 South Koreans currently residing in the North at either Kaesong or at Mount Geumgang; 297 in the former, and 14 in the latter.
From November 24th, following the killing of four South Koreans in the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island the previous day, visits to the Kaesong Complex were also prohibited for a number of days, after which restrictions on certain people, materials and finished products were maintained with an exception made for the transit of oil, gas and foodstuffs.
However, despite the ongoing chilly state of inter-Korean tensions, the output and staffing levels of enterprises operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex continued to rise in October, the Unification Ministry has also revealed.
According to data released Sunday, output from Kaesong rose to $29.41 million in October from $26.69 million in September, a 10.2% month-on-month increase, and 8.9% over October, 2009.
By October, the number of North Koreans making a living in the area had also risen by 2562 since North Korea sank the Cheonan on March 26th, reaching 44,958.
