This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/16/south-north-korea-kaesong-reopen
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| South Koreans head back north to reopened Kaesong complex | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| About 800 South Koreans began returning on Monday to their factories at the Kaesong park, just north of the Demilitarised Zone, to team up with North Korean employees and test-run idle assembly lines. Some are also resuming production. | About 800 South Koreans began returning on Monday to their factories at the Kaesong park, just north of the Demilitarised Zone, to team up with North Korean employees and test-run idle assembly lines. Some are also resuming production. |
| The reopening of the factories, closed in April after nuclear threats from Pyongyang, is the latest visible sign of easing tension between the rival Koreas. | The reopening of the factories, closed in April after nuclear threats from Pyongyang, is the latest visible sign of easing tension between the rival Koreas. |
| But for the businessmen at Kaesong, many of whom operate small or mid-sized companies that need the cheap labour of North Koreans, there's a nagging worry about the future. The companies at Kaesong say they have lost a combined total of about 1 trillion won (about £575m) over the past five months and will reportedly need up to a year to get their businesses back on track. | But for the businessmen at Kaesong, many of whom operate small or mid-sized companies that need the cheap labour of North Koreans, there's a nagging worry about the future. The companies at Kaesong say they have lost a combined total of about 1 trillion won (about £575m) over the past five months and will reportedly need up to a year to get their businesses back on track. |
| "I feel good about the park's resumption, but I also have a heavy heart," said Sung Hyun-sang, president of apparel manufacturer Mansun Corporation, which has lost about 7bn won because of the shutdown. "We've suffered too much damage." | "I feel good about the park's resumption, but I also have a heavy heart," said Sung Hyun-sang, president of apparel manufacturer Mansun Corporation, which has lost about 7bn won because of the shutdown. "We've suffered too much damage." |
| The park, established in 2004 during a period of warming ties between the Koreas, was considered a test case for reunification. It combined South Korean knowhow and technology with cheap North Korean labour. It was the last substantial cross-border co-operation project before Pyongyang withdrew its 53,000 workers in early April to protest at annual military drills between South Korea and rhew US and alleged insults against the country's leadership. | The park, established in 2004 during a period of warming ties between the Koreas, was considered a test case for reunification. It combined South Korean knowhow and technology with cheap North Korean labour. It was the last substantial cross-border co-operation project before Pyongyang withdrew its 53,000 workers in early April to protest at annual military drills between South Korea and rhew US and alleged insults against the country's leadership. |
| The complex survived previous lows in relations, including North Korea's deadly artillery strike on a South Korean island in 2010. By the end of 2012, South Korean companies at Kaesong had produced a total of $2bn worth of goods during the previous eight years. | The complex survived previous lows in relations, including North Korea's deadly artillery strike on a South Korean island in 2010. By the end of 2012, South Korean companies at Kaesong had produced a total of $2bn worth of goods during the previous eight years. |
| The South Korean government provided about 15bn won in insurance payments to 46 companies operating out of Kaesong, but they were required to return the money now that the park has resumed operations, Seoul's unification ministry said. | The South Korean government provided about 15bn won in insurance payments to 46 companies operating out of Kaesong, but they were required to return the money now that the park has resumed operations, Seoul's unification ministry said. |
| "We felt disconsolate [about the North Koreans' pullout] at first, but we didn't know that would it would last this long," said Yeo Dongkoo, director at Sudo Corporation, which produces handkerchiefs and scarves at Kaesong. | "We felt disconsolate [about the North Koreans' pullout] at first, but we didn't know that would it would last this long," said Yeo Dongkoo, director at Sudo Corporation, which produces handkerchiefs and scarves at Kaesong. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |