(LEAD) N. Korea invites S. Korean bizmen, officials to talks
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- In what appeared to be a conciliatory move, North Korea on Tuesday invited South Korean officials as well as businessmen for talks on reopening a suspended joint industrial complex in its territory. The joint industrial complex in the North's border city of Kaesong remains shut down since early April…
On Tuesday, the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, the North's arm for dealing with cross-border affairs with Seoul, said that Pyongyang is willing to start talks on the future of the industrial complex. In a statement issued by its unidentified spokesman, the committee noted that North Korea has already approved a plan by the South Korean business representatives to visit the industrial complex for maintenance and other purposes.
"We have given permission for the visit and can even discuss the shipment of products at the industrial complex," it said, adding that if the South Korean entrepreneurs visit the North, discussions can be made on the normalization of the complex. The North's committee said it will fully guarantee safe passage of all South Koreans who would cross the border for the visit. "If the South feels uneasy, it can send members of the Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee with the businessmen," the statement said. The committee is not a government organization but represents the country's interests in Kaesong. Its chairman Hong Yang-ho is a former Ministry of Unification vice minister.
South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, was cautious in assessing the North's move, saying that government-level talks should be held first. It said business representatives have no authority to discuss the matter.
On Tuesday, the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, the North's arm for dealing with cross-border affairs with Seoul, said that Pyongyang is willing to start talks on the future of the industrial complex. In a statement issued by its unidentified spokesman, the committee noted that North Korea has already approved a plan by the South Korean business representatives to visit the industrial complex for maintenance and other purposes.
"We have given permission for the visit and can even discuss the shipment of products at the industrial complex," it said, adding that if the South Korean entrepreneurs visit the North, discussions can be made on the normalization of the complex. The North's committee said it will fully guarantee safe passage of all South Koreans who would cross the border for the visit. "If the South feels uneasy, it can send members of the Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee with the businessmen," the statement said. The committee is not a government organization but represents the country's interests in Kaesong. Its chairman Hong Yang-ho is a former Ministry of Unification vice minister.
South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, was cautious in assessing the North's move, saying that government-level talks should be held first. It said business representatives have no authority to discuss the matter.