Some worry U.S. could apply brakes to Kaesong
After the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution against North Korea, the South Korean government issued a statement to say that it "supports" the resolution.
The faces of government officials, however, remained hardened when asked about the issue, indicating the diplomatic seriousness of the situation they find themselves in. After a meeting at the presidential office, when asked a question about the consequences of the U.N. resolution on inter-Korean cooperation, Song Min-soon, the president’s top security adviser, replied, "In connection with the measures discussed in the security council, an effective system to control ’strategic materials’ is being put into operation and will be in operation continuously." Song did not mention any additional measures to be placed on the North, suggesting that existing South-North economic cooperative projects will be maintained.
Opinions vary among experts. Some worry that Washington’s pressure on Seoul and Beijing and any additional measures from Washington and Tokyo will have negative effects on inter-Korea exchange and cooperation, especially on large-scale economic cooperative projects including the Kaesong (Gaeseong) Industrial Complex. One expert pointed out that the U.S., in particular, could put the brakes on expansion of the Kaesong project by strictly applying Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or by strengthening related regulations, such as the Proliferation Security Initiative.
Under EAR, nations that want to export goods containing over 10 percent of U.S-made parts or technology must get approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce, an ordinance which would affect many of the products manufactured at Kaesong. One government official said, on condition of anonymity, "The U.S. may step up pressure on the government to press the North. It is time to take a broad view of the current situation." Another expert, also asking not to be named, suggested that in order to "create the mood for a dialogue, the government should intensify its efforts to accomplish former president Kim Dae-jung’s visit to Pyongyang and his meeting with Kim Jong-il." It is most desirable to solve the crisis within the framework of the six-nation talks, presidential security advisor Song said. "In the case that such efforts fail, five-party talks [without North Korea] are under consideration," he said, "but currently we are making utmost efforts to resume the six-party talks."
