Last South Korean workers 'set to leave Kaesong'

South Korea is set to pull the last of its workers out of a joint industrial zone in North Korea, as Seoul announced moves to help affected firms.

A total of 125 South Koreans left the Kaesong complex on Saturday, and the remaining 50 are expected to withdraw on Monday, officials say.



The move came after North Korea pulled out its own workers and rejected talks on the industrial park.

Tensions are high following Pyongyang's third nuclear test in February.

Pyongyang has been angered by tightened UN sanctions imposed after its 12 February nuclear test and by joint US-South Korea military drills, which are scheduled to end on Tuesday.

Kaesong Industrial Complex, which was launched in 2003 to boost inter-Korean ties, is a factory park situated just inside North Korea.

It is home to 123 South Korean companies which employ North Korean workers, and provides the North with much-needed hard currency.
Source: BBC

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