N. Korea threatens 'stronger measures' against S. Koreans in Kaesong complex

(ATTN: ADDS remarks by the head of the association of South Korean companies in the
Kaesong complex in last 2 paras)
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea warned it may take "stronger measures"
against South Korean firms operating in a joint industrial complex on its soil
unless Seoul responds favorably to its latest demands to revise key operational
contracts of the complex, according to the North's document unveiled here
Thursday.
The communist North also said in the document that all preferential treatment
offered to South Koreans in the joint industrial park in the North's border town
of Kaesong could possibly be reconsidered as long as the South Korean
government's pro-U.S. "confrontational" policies continue to endanger the
inter-Korean cooperation project.
But the North still reconfirmed its commitment to continued development of the
Kaesong complex, saying that its latest demands (for contract revision) are part
of efforts to save and normalize the project.
Pyongyang has criticized Seoul's support of U.N. sanctions against its April 5
rocket launch and its plan to join a U.S.-led security campaign as
"confrontational," according to the document North Korea presented to the South
Korean delegation during government-level talks on Tuesday.
In the first official talks in more than a year, North Korea said it will review
the operations of the industrial park jointly run with South Korea in Kaesong.
Seoul officials have expressed reservations about Pyongyang's political motives
behind the announcement.
"The United States and its followers are driving the situation on the Korean
Peninsula to the brink of war with their vicious confrontational schemes and
maneuvers," said the North Korean document.
North Korea earlier warned it would view Seoul's participation in the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) campaign against the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction as a "declaration of a war." One of the primary
targets of the PSI is the North.
"Fussing over its full participation in the so-called Proliferation Security
Initiative, which we have already declared will be considered as a declaration of
a war... the South Korean government is driving inter-Korean relations to a
dangerous point," it said.
"This is an intolerable mockery" and an "unforgivable violation of our
'between-ourselves' spirit," it said.
"Now that the South Korean authorities have trampled on inter-Korean summit
accords and reversed inter-Korean relations so as to follow invasive foreign
forces and continue confrontation with us, we have no other option but to
reconsider all preferential treatment we have granted to the South according to
the summit accord," the document said.
During the inter-Korean talks, North Korea demanded the two nations begin
negotiations over operational changes at the Kaesong industrial park. Pyongyang
said it will reconsider "preferential treatment" given to South Korean firms at
the park, such as the use of workers for low wages and the free use of land, and
review overall contracts on the joint venture. With the curt announcement, the
meeting ended in 22 minutes after 12 hours of wrangling over procedural disputes.
Meanwhile, Moon Chang-seop, chairman of the association of South Korean
businesses in the Kaesong complex, said his association will work out a position
on North Korea's demands, including a pay raise for North Korean workers.
"Each company is analyzing the North's demands. We'll try to find good ways (to
respond to the demands)," Moon said at the inter-Korean transit office after
visiting the Kaesong complex earlier in the day.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)