 |
|
Kaesong (Gaeseong) Industrial Complex in North Korea
|
North must be notified only 1 week in advance
Procedures for South Korean and foreign engineers and buyers visiting Kaesong (Gaeseong) Industrial Complex in North Korea will be significantly simplified starting today. South Korea’s Ministry of Unification yesterday said that the two Koreas agreed that certain Kaesong visitors will not have to apply one month in advance. Instead, the North, after receiving applications from those persons seven days prior to their visit, will grant or deny them permission to visit within three days.Previously, people had to submit an application at least a month before their scheduled visit, and then wait to receive their "invitation card." Those working at Kaesong and officials of companies conducting business there could easily obtain the invitation cards, so they suffered no serious inconvenience due to the process. However, engineers and buyers who visit Kaesong irregularly have experienced many difficulties in doing business there. A Unification Ministry official said, "Thanks to the new measure, buyers and engineers who go to Kaesong to repair machines and instruments will find the visit procedures simplified." The invitation cards were issued by North Korea’s Inter-Korea Economic Cooperation Association, while the new applications will be issued by the immigration bureau at Kaesong. Therefore, the procedure will be shortened and the immigration bureau will be given autonomy regarding visitor approval. Those who visit Kaesong to inspect it or to take part in events there will still have to go through the month-long invitation process for the time being. The ministry said, "This temporary measure has been prepared for the convenience of companies, and it will be maintained until a better system of admission is established."
