North Korea has withdrawn its workers from the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), nominally in protest at what it calls the “anti-Republic moves” of South Korea and the United States.
Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA) announced the news earlier today, citing a statement by Party Secretary Kim Yang Gon, who said, “We have temporarily stopped operations in the KIC and are reviewing whether it should be allowed to exist. This is because the South Chosun authorities and their warmongers are offending our dignity and trying to use it against us in their internecine civil war.”
The future operation of the complex “entirely depends on the attitude of the South Chosun authorities,” Kim added.
Earlier in the day, Kim reportedly travelled with a delegation to the KIC and ordered the North Korean managers there to “remain tense and hold to your state of mobilization.” There had been some hope that the situation in the KIC would get better in the aftermath of the visit, since Kim is a Party secretary who deals with inter-Korean relations, rather than a military officer.
However, conversely, the situation has been made worse, and there are growing fears that no matter what the North Korean strategic goals may be, the result could easily be widespread bankruptcy and eventual KIC closure.
