The Ministry of Unification has quashed domestic media speculation that it is close to taking a much-mentioned “massive decision” on the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) as a result of North Korea’s failure to respond to Seoul’s offer of a seventh round of talks on the future of the inter-Korean manufacturing zone.
The “massive decision” in question is assumed to mean the full and final closure of the KIC.
Domestic media reports this morning had cited an anonymous “high-ranking government official” as saying, “We cannot just wait around for North Korea to answer. The time for a decision is approaching. There are several options, and we will consider it more next week.”
However, a ministry official dismissed the claim later in the day, telling reporters, “Absolutely nothing about our measure on the Kaesong Complex problem has been decided,” adding, “It was probably said hypothetically. This is not the kind of problem you can solve by setting a deadline.”
