Government Calls for Resumption of Kaesong Industrial Complex... North Korea Silent for 5 Days

No Response After Verbal Delivery on the 12th
North Korea's First Mention of Individual Tourism Met with "No Comment"
Seoul-Pyongyang Direct Hotline Operating Normally Twice Daily

On the morning of the 11th, participants are performing a Kaesong Industrial Complex reopening performance at the rally titled "Four Years Since the Full Suspension of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, Now It's Time to Reopen," held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul.

The government verbally conveyed the views of South Korean businesspeople urging the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex to the North on the 12th, but as of the morning of the 17th, North Korea has shown no response, the Ministry of Unification announced.

At a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office, Ministry of Unification spokesperson Yeo Sang-gi responded to a question asking, "Was there any reaction from the North after verbally delivering the letter from Kaesong Industrial Complex businesspeople?" by saying, "There has been no response from the North regarding that matter so far."

The Kaesong Industrial Complex Business Association and others held a press conference on the 10th, marking four years since the suspension of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, urging the government to take active measures and expressing hope that the North would accept businesspeople's requests to visit North Korea for the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and prepare for its restart together. They also delivered a letter containing these contents to the Ministry of Unification.

Accordingly, on the 12th, the Ministry of Unification verbally explained the intent and contents of the letter from Kaesong Industrial Complex businesspeople to the North through the inter-Korean liaison office channel.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the birthday of his father, Kim Jong-il, the former National Defense Commission Chairman (Kwangmyongsong Day, February 16), North Korean media reported on the 16th. The photo, released by Korean Central TV, shows Chairman Kim wearing a long black leather jacket. Photo by Korean Central TV.

Regarding the possibility of an outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in North Korea, spokesperson Yeo stated that the government has not yet identified any cases.

He explained, "There have been no announcements of confirmed cases through North Korea's official media so far," adding, "If confirmed cases occur in North Korea, the North Korean authorities are supposed to notify the World Health Organization (WHO)." He further stated, "We will continue to monitor North Korea's confirmed case situation through North Korea's official media and international health organizations."

He refrained from commenting on North Korea's external propaganda media mentioning 'individual tourism' for the first time. Spokesperson Yeo said, "The government's position on individual tourism has been consistently maintained so far," but added, "There is nothing special to announce regarding the reports from North Korea's propaganda media."

On the 16th, the external propaganda media 'Chosun Today' mentioned for the first time South Korea's promotion of 'North Korean individual tourism' in an article titled "What Do You Expect to Gain by Begging Foreign Powers?"

Meanwhile, the direct telephone line between Seoul and Pyongyang, installed as a replacement after the temporary closure of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, is operating normally every day. Spokesperson Yeo said, "The direct telephone line between Seoul and Pyongyang at the inter-Korean liaison office is operating normally with two test calls conducted in the morning and afternoon."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.