Kaesong Industrial Complex Resident Companies 'Frustrated'... Closely Monitoring Future Developments

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Regarding North Korea's demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office on the afternoon of the 16th, companies operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex are closely monitoring the situation.

The Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, demolished by North Korea on that day, was a building constructed by the Ministry of Unification and located within the Kaesong Industrial Complex, but it is government property, not the property of the resident companies. Therefore, the resident companies view North Korea's action as a symbolic move to pressure South Korea and the United States.

The resident companies are also on high alert, considering the possibility that North Korea may take further actions. A representative from the Kaesong Industrial Complex Companies Association said, "There are businesspeople who worry that North Korea might actually deploy troops to blow up or dismantle factory facilities," adding, "We hope the issue can be resolved before the situation worsens."

Kim Seo-jin, Executive Director of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Companies Association, said, "Even if we want to prepare countermeasures, we are unable to do so," and questioned, "Since the communication channel is limited to the Ministry of Unification, we cannot properly grasp the ongoing situation. To prepare countermeasures, we need to know what is happening."

Sung Hyun-sang, CEO of Mansen, said, "This was an agreement reached through inter-Korean summits, but since there has been no progress for the past three years, it seems North Korea has taken action," and added, "It is regrettable that we are only relying on the Ministry of Unification in this situation."

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