South Korea 'to withdraw staff' from Kaesong zone in North

South Korea says it is withdrawing its remaining 175 workers from a jointly-run industrial complex in North Korea.

The announcement came from the unification minister shortly after Pyongyang (Capital of North Korea) rejected an offer of talks.

North Korea blocked access to the Kaesong zone - once a symbol of inter-Korean co-operation - earlier this month and later pulled its workers out.





The remaining South Koreans were believed to be running out of food and medicines, because the North had refused to allow fresh supplies in.

The move followed weeks of high tension in the wake of North Korea's third nuclear test in February.

"Because our nationals remaining in the Kaesong industrial zone are experiencing greater difficulties due to the North's unjust actions, the government has come to the unavoidable decision to bring back all remaining personnel in order to protect their safety," Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said.

"North Korea must guarantee the safe return of our personnel and fully protect the assets of the companies with investment in Kaesong," he added.
Source: BBC

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