EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on March 17)

Our Kaesong dilemma

North Korea is once again using the Kaesong Industrial Complex to pressure South
Korea.

Last July, shortly after a South Korean tourist was shot dead at Mount Kumgang,
North Korea delayed approval for South Koreans traveling to Kaesong and the
industrial complex, effectively blocking their entry. At the time, the North said
that the action was done in response to the South???s having delayed delivery of
equipment needed for construction of a new military communications channel, which
the South had withheld because of the Mount Kumgang incident. Since then, passage
to and from the industrial complex and tourism sites in Kaesong has tightened
considerably.
Last November, as we co-sponsored the United Nations resolution on North
Korea???s human rights situation and South Korean civic groups sent up propaganda
leaflets northward across the border, the North halted tourism to Kaesong and
reduced the number of workers permitted to be stationed within the Kaesong
Industrial Complex.
On Friday, Pyongyang again barred workers from entering the industrial complex
and stranded those who were supposed to return home to South Korea, citing its
opposition to a South Korea?United States joint military exercise. It is worth
noting that North Korea allowed a small group to cross, including someone who was
to be wed and foreigners, including someone who was sick, indicating that the
North wanted to avoid an international outcry or further criticism about its
human rights.
As we witness this series of events, North Korea???s regard for the Kaesong
complex becomes clear: Pyongyang has little interest in its success. Even though
nearly 40,000 North Korean workers are employed in the industrial complex and the
income the North is able to earn through the Kaesong and Kumgang projects exceeds
$60 million, North Korea seems to think it can give up these projects at any
time.
While North Korea???s stance is clear, ours is much more complex. When South and
North are on good terms, the Kaesong Industrial Complex has political and
economic significance. However, when inter-Korean relations deteriorate, the
Kaesong issue becomes difficult to navigate. It???s hard to imagine giving up the
industrial complex into which we have poured an enormous amount of effort and
funding; nor do we want to be dragged along by the North. If inter-Korean
relations continue to deteriorate in this way, a decision will have to be made.
Even if inter-Korean relations improve, we will have to think seriously about
whether the Kaesong complex should be kept. In any case, North Korea???s actions
are beyond the pale.
(END)