ID :
63178
Fri, 05/29/2009 - 12:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/63178
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Border traffic continues with caution after North Korean military warning
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Inter-Korean overland and sea traffic continued as
usual on Friday, Seoul officials said, in the wake of North Korea's warning of
military strikes that has sharply raised border tensions.
More than 340 South Korean workers crossed the demarcation line to a joint
industrial complex in the North, while two North Korean civilian boats were
passing south of the border, said Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo.
Tension remained high after North Korea warned on Wednesday it would no more
guarantee the safety of civilian ships and South Korean and U.S. military vessels
along the western sea border. The warning came in response to South Korea's
participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led campaign aimed
at interdicting ships and planes carrying weapons of mass destruction.
"North Korea, while continuing to denounce the full participation in the PSI, is
observing routine procedures according to the maritime agreement," Lee said,
referring to the 2005 pact in which the two Koreas opened their sea routes to cut
travel time and fuel.
No South Korean ships were currently in North Korean territorial waters. Since
humanitarian and economic exchanges considerably decreased this year, South
Korean ships carrying aid and industrial materials travel to North Korea on a
weekly basis, Lee explained.
Business continued as usual at the joint industrial complex in the North's border
town of Kaesong, one of the last bastion of inter-Korean exchange. The joint
venture, just an hour's drive from Seoul, hosts more than 100 South Korean firms
producing clothes, kitchenware, electronic equipment and other labor-intensive
goods with over 40,000 North Korean workers.
"North Korean workers don't seem to know about the military warnings, maybe
because their media is strictly controlled," said Ok Sung-seok, president of
clothing company Nine Mode Co. that employs about 200 North Korean workers in
the Kaesong complex.
But there was growing anxiety among the businessmen, Ok said. Production was
disrupted several times in March when North Korea sealed the inter-Korean border
to protest South Korea's military exercise with the U.S.
The armed forces of South Korea and the U.S. were on a heightened alert, with
their surveillance over North Korea elevated to the second highest level in the
five-stage "Watchcon."
North Korea conducted its second nuclear test on Monday, prompting the South to
announce its long-delayed participation in the anti-proliferation campaign the
following day. North Korea had warned the PSI participation will be a
"declaration of war" against it.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Inter-Korean overland and sea traffic continued as
usual on Friday, Seoul officials said, in the wake of North Korea's warning of
military strikes that has sharply raised border tensions.
More than 340 South Korean workers crossed the demarcation line to a joint
industrial complex in the North, while two North Korean civilian boats were
passing south of the border, said Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo.
Tension remained high after North Korea warned on Wednesday it would no more
guarantee the safety of civilian ships and South Korean and U.S. military vessels
along the western sea border. The warning came in response to South Korea's
participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led campaign aimed
at interdicting ships and planes carrying weapons of mass destruction.
"North Korea, while continuing to denounce the full participation in the PSI, is
observing routine procedures according to the maritime agreement," Lee said,
referring to the 2005 pact in which the two Koreas opened their sea routes to cut
travel time and fuel.
No South Korean ships were currently in North Korean territorial waters. Since
humanitarian and economic exchanges considerably decreased this year, South
Korean ships carrying aid and industrial materials travel to North Korea on a
weekly basis, Lee explained.
Business continued as usual at the joint industrial complex in the North's border
town of Kaesong, one of the last bastion of inter-Korean exchange. The joint
venture, just an hour's drive from Seoul, hosts more than 100 South Korean firms
producing clothes, kitchenware, electronic equipment and other labor-intensive
goods with over 40,000 North Korean workers.
"North Korean workers don't seem to know about the military warnings, maybe
because their media is strictly controlled," said Ok Sung-seok, president of
clothing company Nine Mode Co. that employs about 200 North Korean workers in
the Kaesong complex.
But there was growing anxiety among the businessmen, Ok said. Production was
disrupted several times in March when North Korea sealed the inter-Korean border
to protest South Korea's military exercise with the U.S.
The armed forces of South Korea and the U.S. were on a heightened alert, with
their surveillance over North Korea elevated to the second highest level in the
five-stage "Watchcon."
North Korea conducted its second nuclear test on Monday, prompting the South to
announce its long-delayed participation in the anti-proliferation campaign the
following day. North Korea had warned the PSI participation will be a
"declaration of war" against it.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
