South Korea To Shut Down Kaesong Industrial Complex To Reprimand North Korea For Recent Nuclear Test And Long-Range Rocket Launch
An official of the Unification Ministry said South Korea plans to totally shut down the Kaesong Industrial Complex as a mean to reprimand North Korea for its fourth nuclear test in January and its recent long-range rocket launch.
"Continuing the current situation does not merely signify a status quo but can lead to a catastrophic disaster as the North's nuclear capabilities get enhanced," Minister Hong Yong Pyo said in a press conference on Thursday, according to Korea Joongang Daily.
He continued that South Korea's support for the complex was misused for upgrading nuclear weapons and long-range rockets.
"At a time when international society is pushing for sanctions against the North's nuclear test and long-range missile launch, which violated UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea, we believed there was the necessity for us to take the lead," Hong added.
Hong also said the operation of Kaesong Industrial Complex will remain halted if it poses threat to public security and peace on the Korean peninsula, as per South Korean government.
Kaesong Industrial Complex is a jointly-run complex located in North Korea. It is considered as one of the last points of collaboration between the two Koreas. The complex is also Pyongyang's main source of profits.
On Friday, North Korea reportedly kicked out South Koreans from the complex and allegedly froze South Korean assets. Said act compelled the South to suspend its operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
Hong said North Korea's act of freezing South Korean assets was "illegal". He also tipped off the rival country not to destroy assets owned by South Korean firms, as claimed by Reuters.
The Unification minister added that North Korea will be held accountable for the outcome after it expelled South Korean employees.
"The North's conduct is very regrettable and we make it clear that the North will be responsible for everything that happens," Hong added.
