A majority of South Korean companies say that inter-Korean business cooperation should be maintained despite increasing tension following the North's nuclear test last month, a survey showed Sunday.
According to the survey of 200 local companies by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 88 percent said that the government should keep the operation of an industrial complex in the border city of Kaesong, with the remainder saying the major cross-border business should be suspended.
Among the firms insisting on the "go-ahead" for the inter-Korean business, 46 percent called upon the government to be more vigilant in its cooperation with the communist country, saying that only necessary parts of the project should be maintained.
South Korea has been one of the largest business partners for the North over the past several years since the leaders of the two nations held a summit in 2000. The Kaesong industrial park and tours to Mount Geumgang are the two cross-border businesses that the South is spearheading.
The Kaesong industrial park, in particular, drew attention after the North conducted an underground nuclear test on Oct 9.
Hardliners called for the suspension of the Kaesong business, raising suspicion that it is providing money to the cash-strapped regime.
As for the tours to Mount Geumgang, 32 percent of those polled responded that the business should be kept in place with 32 percent saying it should be halted. Of them, 29 percent called for scaling down the inter-Korean cooperation.
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap)
Inter-Korean business should be maintained: survey |
