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North Korea rejects South's call for Kaesong talks North Korea rejects South's call for Kaesong talks
(35 minutes later)
North Korea has rejected South Korea's demand for talks on a jointly run factory park that has been closed for nearly a month, responding to a threat from Seoul with its own warning of "grave measures".North Korea has rejected South Korea's demand for talks on a jointly run factory park that has been closed for nearly a month, responding to a threat from Seoul with its own warning of "grave measures".
A day earlier Seoul had used the same language in setting a Friday deadline for Pyongyang to answer its call for working-level discussions of the fate of the Kaesong industrial park.A day earlier Seoul had used the same language in setting a Friday deadline for Pyongyang to answer its call for working-level discussions of the fate of the Kaesong industrial park.
While neither capital is providing specifics about what the grave measures might be, the war of words calls into question the future of the last major symbol of inter-Korean co-operation. While neither country is providing specifics about what the grave measures might be, the war of words calls into question the future of the last major symbol of inter-Korean co-operation.
The park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong is the most significant casualty so far in the recent deterioration of relations between the Koreas. Pyongyang barred South Korean managers and cargo from entering North Korea early this month, then recalled the 53,000 North Koreans who worked on the assembly lines. The park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong is the most significant casualty so far in the recent deterioration of relations between the countries. Pyongyang barred South Korean managers and cargo from entering North Korea early this month, then recalled the 53,000 North Koreans who worked on the assembly lines.
An unidentified spokesman for Pyongyang's national defence commission said North Korea would guarantee the safety of South Koreans if they decided to leave Kaesong. But he called Seoul's demand for working-level talks deceptive and said similar future demands would "only speed up final destruction" of South Korea.An unidentified spokesman for Pyongyang's national defence commission said North Korea would guarantee the safety of South Koreans if they decided to leave Kaesong. But he called Seoul's demand for working-level talks deceptive and said similar future demands would "only speed up final destruction" of South Korea.
"If the South's puppet group looks away from reality and pursues the worsening of the situation, we will be compelled to first take final and decisive grave measures," the spokesman said in a statement."If the South's puppet group looks away from reality and pursues the worsening of the situation, we will be compelled to first take final and decisive grave measures," the spokesman said in a statement.
Seoul said it had set the deadline for Pyongyang's response because the roughly 175 workers remaining at Kaesong were running short of food and medicine. On Friday South Korea said it was considering countermeasures but refused to discuss what they might be.Seoul said it had set the deadline for Pyongyang's response because the roughly 175 workers remaining at Kaesong were running short of food and medicine. On Friday South Korea said it was considering countermeasures but refused to discuss what they might be.
Seoul said it had no immediate response to the statement, but the South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, planned a meeting with ministers later on Friday focusing on Kaesong.Seoul said it had no immediate response to the statement, but the South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, planned a meeting with ministers later on Friday focusing on Kaesong.
Some analysts said Seoul's threat of grave measures may signal a willingness to pull out its managers from the complex.Some analysts said Seoul's threat of grave measures may signal a willingness to pull out its managers from the complex.
The threats follow a lull in what had been a weeks-long period of rising hostility, during which North Korea threatened war against Washington and Seoul over joint military drills that the allies call routine and over UN sanctions meant to penalise Pyongyang over a nuclear test in February.The threats follow a lull in what had been a weeks-long period of rising hostility, during which North Korea threatened war against Washington and Seoul over joint military drills that the allies call routine and over UN sanctions meant to penalise Pyongyang over a nuclear test in February.
Pyongyang has recently eased its rhetoric and expressed some tentative signs of interest in dialogue, though its demands, including dismantling all US nuclear weapons, go far beyond what its adversaries will accept. Pyongyang has recently eased its rhetoric and expressed tentative signs of interest in dialogue, though its demands, including dismantling all US nuclear weapons, go far beyond what its adversaries will accept.
Meanwhile, the military drills continue. On Friday jets flew over South Korea's south-eastern city of Pohang and amphibious vessels landed on the coast. North Korea calls the drills, which are set to end Tuesday, war preparations. Meanwhile, the military drills continue. On Friday, jets flew over South Korea's south-eastern city of Pohang and amphibious vessels landed on the coast. North Korea calls the drills, which are set to end on Tuesday, war preparations.
"Even at this moment, South Korea is ramping up the intensity of coastal landing drills with the United States in the east, driving the already tense situation to a point of explosion," North Korea said in its statement. It said the annual drills belied South Korea's calls for talks."Even at this moment, South Korea is ramping up the intensity of coastal landing drills with the United States in the east, driving the already tense situation to a point of explosion," North Korea said in its statement. It said the annual drills belied South Korea's calls for talks.
The Kaesong complex has operated with South Korean knowhow and technology and with cheap labour from North Korea since 2004. It weathered past cycles of hostility between the rivals, including two attacks blamed on North Korea in 2010 that killed 50 South Koreans.The Kaesong complex has operated with South Korean knowhow and technology and with cheap labour from North Korea since 2004. It weathered past cycles of hostility between the rivals, including two attacks blamed on North Korea in 2010 that killed 50 South Koreans.
North Korea objects to views in South Korea that the park is a source of badly needed hard currency. South Korean companies paid salaries to North Korean workers averaging $127 a month, according to South Korea's government. That is less than one-sixteenth of the average salary of South Korean manufacturer workers. North Korea objects to the belief in South Korea that the park is a source of badly needed hard currency. South Korean companies paid salaries to North Korean workers averaging $127 a month, according to South Korea's government. That is less than one-sixteenth of the average salary of South Korean manufacturer workers.
Pyongyang has also complained about alleged South Korean military plans in the event that the North holds the Kaesong managers hostage.Pyongyang has also complained about alleged South Korean military plans in the event that the North holds the Kaesong managers hostage.
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