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Koreas talk amid UN sanction call N Korea 'presses South over pay'
(about 5 hours later)
North and South Korea held rare talks lasting just under one hour, about their jointly managed Kaesong industrial park. North Korea has demanded a four-fold increase in pay for its workers at a South Korean-funded industrial park on the border, South Korean officials say.
Hopes of progress were low amid tensions over the North's nuclear programme. The North also wants $500m (£305m) in rent for the Kaesong facility, just north of the border, a spokesman for the South's Unification Ministry said.
Key Security Council members have agreed on the wording of a draft UN resolution to expand sanctions against North Korea, diplomats say. The demand came during rare talks between North and South Korea to discuss the industrial zone's future.
The move is a response to Pyongyang's recent nuclear and missile testing. The talks were held amid tensions over the North's nuclear programme.
The BBC's correspondent John Sudworth says the Kaesong plant was seen as a symbol of possible reconciliation between the two halves of this divided peninsular, but amid the worsening security situation, the future of the project is now in doubt. There were two sessions of talks at the Kaesong facility, each lasting for less than one hour, South Korean media reported.
North Korean officials said they wanted the monthly salaries of workers employed by South Korean firms at Kaesong to be increased to $300 from the current $70-80, Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said.
The BBC's correspondent in Seoul, John Sudworth, says the Kaesong plant was seen as a symbol of possible reconciliation between the two halves of this divided peninsular when it was set up five years ago, but amid the worsening security situation, the future of the project is now in doubt.
Last month North Korea announced that it was unilaterally scrapping wage and rent agreements, and if the 100 or so South Korean companies operating there didn't like it, they could leave. One South Korean firm did leave this week.Last month North Korea announced that it was unilaterally scrapping wage and rent agreements, and if the 100 or so South Korean companies operating there didn't like it, they could leave. One South Korean firm did leave this week.
Some 38,000 North Koreans are employed at the Kaesong complex Seoul, for its part, wants a South Korean manager released from North Korean detention.
South Korea, for its part, wants a South Korean manager released from North Korean detention.
Officials in Seoul said they had low expectations from the talks, only the second this year, given the North's recent nuclear and missile tests.
UN draftUN draft
Agreement on a UN resolution against those tests was reached by the five permanent council members, along with Japan and South Korea. The US's UN envoy said the draft was "very strong". On Wednesday, the five permanent Security Council members, plus Japan and South Korea, agreed on the wording of a draft UN resolution to expand sanctions against North Korea, diplomats said.
The full 15-nation council will discuss the draft later in the day with a vote expected on Friday. The US envoy to the UN said the draft was "very strong".
The full 15-nation council will discuss the draft with a vote expected on Friday.
North Korea's missile programme Engage, appease, oppose?
The 34-point draft resolution proposes significantly tougher sanctions than those already in place.The 34-point draft resolution proposes significantly tougher sanctions than those already in place.
It reasserts a UN ban on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile tests and calls on Pyongyang to retract its decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).It reasserts a UN ban on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile tests and calls on Pyongyang to retract its decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The draft also calls on all UN member states to carry out inspections of North Korean ships that may be carrying equipment related to weapons of mass destruction.The draft also calls on all UN member states to carry out inspections of North Korean ships that may be carrying equipment related to weapons of mass destruction.
States are also requested to increase vigilance over their financial dealings with Pyongyang.States are also requested to increase vigilance over their financial dealings with Pyongyang.
In recent weeks, North Korea has fired a long-range and several short-range missiles, and tested a nuclear device in defiance of the UN Security Council.In recent weeks, North Korea has fired a long-range and several short-range missiles, and tested a nuclear device in defiance of the UN Security Council.
North Korea's missile programme Engage, appease, oppose?
On Tuesday, North Korea said it would use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked.On Tuesday, North Korea said it would use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked.
The US has said it has ruled out military action against the North in favour of international diplomatic efforts.The US has said it has ruled out military action against the North in favour of international diplomatic efforts.
The BBC's Jonathan Marcus says it remains to be seen whether China would be prepared to carry out extensive searches of North Korean ships. The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says it remains to be seen whether China would be prepared to carry out extensive searches of North Korean ships.
But if both China and Russia approve the proposed resolution, it would send a powerful signal of disapproval to Pyongyang, says our correspondent. But if both China and Russia approve the proposed resolution, it would send a powerful signal of disapproval to Pyongyang, correspondent says.