Officials from the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held talks on Feb. 1 at the Kaesong industrial complex to discuss ways to improve operations at the complex.
The Kaesong industrial complex is considered to be an outstanding symbol of cooperation between the two Koreas since the historic inter-Korean meeting between leaders of the two countries in June 2000.
At present, some 110 RoK firms at the complex are employing about 42,000 DPRK workers.
The previous talks from Jan. 19-21 between the two sides wrapped up without making progress, as the DPRK wanted the working agenda to give top priority to rises in wages for its workers while the RoK insisted that talks should first focus on facilitating entry for RoK engineers and housing facilities for workers.
“I assume the DPRK understands that today's talks concern the issues of
housing as well as commuting, communications and customs,” chief of the RoK delegate Kim Young-Tak was quoted as saying before departure. “We will persuade the DPRK to understand that a mood favourable to discussing wages will be naturally created,” he said./.
The Kaesong industrial complex is considered to be an outstanding symbol of cooperation between the two Koreas since the historic inter-Korean meeting between leaders of the two countries in June 2000.
At present, some 110 RoK firms at the complex are employing about 42,000 DPRK workers.
The previous talks from Jan. 19-21 between the two sides wrapped up without making progress, as the DPRK wanted the working agenda to give top priority to rises in wages for its workers while the RoK insisted that talks should first focus on facilitating entry for RoK engineers and housing facilities for workers.
“I assume the DPRK understands that today's talks concern the issues of
housing as well as commuting, communications and customs,” chief of the RoK delegate Kim Young-Tak was quoted as saying before departure. “We will persuade the DPRK to understand that a mood favourable to discussing wages will be naturally created,” he said./.
