It was business as usual at an inter-Korean industrial complex in North Korea after the North's reported nuclear test, the head of a consortium of South Korean businesses in the complex said Tuesday.
"While the companies are on a holiday to observe the (North's) Korean Workers' Party's anniversary, regular businesses in Kaesong haven't halted (because of the nuclear tests)," said Kim Ki-mun, who also serves as Chairman of South Korean watchmaker Romanson Co.
Defying a chorus of international warnings, North Korea announced Tuesday it had successfully performed an underground nuclear test.
Kim, who also heads the consortium of businesses in the complex located in the North Korean city of Kaesong, stressed that the zone's businesses are mostly run privately and that its continued operation shouldn't be viewed from a political perspective.
The complex, a major byproduct of the historic 2000 inter-Korean summit between the two Korean leaders, is aimed at combining South Korea's capital and technical expertise with North Korea's cheap labor.
Currently, 15 South Korean companies are now operating at the complex, located just north of the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since 2004.
"Private investment and corporate activities should not be influenced by domestic or overseas political situations."
"The government should come up with a plan to ensure stable business activities in the zone," Kim said.
The chairman also noted the misunderstanding that operations in Kaesong will automatically halt following Pyongyang's atomic test, urging the government to offer plans to erase such misleading information.
Seoul, Oct. 10 (Yonhap News)
S. Korean business in Kaesong operating normally: consortium |
