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Kaesong pull out decision upsets companies Source: cntv.cn

Remaining S. Korean workers start to leave Kaesong The remaining South Korean workers began to leave Kaesong Industrial Complex on Saturday, according to local media. Seoul to withdraw all workers from Kaesong South Korea will withdraw all remaining workers from a jointly run industrial zone in North Korea, it said on Friday, after Pyongyang rejected a call for formal talks to end a standoff that led to operations being suspended.

More

S.Korea to withdraw all its employees from Kaesong Industrial Complex
DPRK warns of decisive action on Kaesong issue
S.Korea hopes for talks
S. Korea to expand financial support for companies at Kaesong complex 
DPRK denies S. Korean businessmen's entry to Kaesong
NK slams overtures as "cunning ploy"

Responses

	The North's National Defence Commission Should Seoul keep aggravating the situation, it would be the North Korea, not South Korea,that will be forced to take the final decisive and crucial measure first.
	South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae  "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."
	Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman China opposes any action that would aggravate the tensions on the Korean Peninsula. China is considering holding a trilateral but informal dialogue with South Korea and the US and agreed to open a 24-hour hotline with the South for prompt policy consultations on North Korea.
	UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon  Hopes operations at Kaesong could return to normal as soon as possible through dialogue. The industrial zone is a successful example of inter-Korean cooperation, and the project should not be affected by political and security considerations.

Commentary

 Global Times

Seoul can reap few strategic fruits by imitating the North and showing toughness. This may help appease South Korea's domestic public and allow politicians to collect points. However, with the disappearance of the Kaesong link, the already inadequate diplomatic flexibility between the two countries will be totally destroyed.

South Korea needs strategic insights, and to avoid being bothered by public opinion in decision-making over Peninsula policies. Political courage and decisiveness should be shown by fundamentally leading the country out of the chaotic Peninsula dynamics.  

 Zhang Liangui, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee

"After the North suspended operations in the complex and denied requests to send food and supplies, withdrawal seems to be a reasonable option at the moment. With no substantial change in the inter-Korean relations, the economic collaboration is very fragile."

"China has really started to feel anxious about what will happen on the Peninsula after carefully observing the situation for the past few months…Beijing is, for the first time in decades, actively seeking measures to increase the consensus with Washington and Seoul on North Korea."

 Zheng Hao, a commentator with phoenix TV 

"If viewed from the prism of economics, the clash surrounding the Kaesong industrial complex is merely a botched business corporation. Resolved through diplomatic means, such as conducting dialogues, it would not escalate into an armed conflict. But if North Korea sees it as a gross provocation from the South Korea, it may launch a military attack. In case of such a misguided judgment by Pyongyang, things would get out of hand."

Timeline

March 27	North Korea severed its military hotline with the South in protest against the military drills between Seoul and Washington.
April 3	The North prevented South Korean workers and supplies from getting in to the zone.
April 9	North Korea pulled out its entire workforce of some 54,000 people and suspended operations.
April 17	South Korea's unification ministry regrets over the North's refusal of South Korean businessmen's request to visit the Kaesong industrial zone.
April 24	South Korean government planned to expand its financial support for companies at the Kaesong Industrial Complex that has halted operations for over two weeks.
April 25	South Korea proposed working-level talks with North Korea regarding suspended operations at the joint Kaesong industrial zone, and asked the North to reply by April 26 morning, adding that the South will have to take significant measures if the North refuses it.
April 26	North Korea rejected the proposal for talks, saying the South has acted in an "unpardonable" manner to jeopardize a "precious" legacy of the rivals' bid to seek peace.
April 26	(A few hours later) The South Korean government advised all its employees to leave Kaesong Industrial Complex.

The Industrial Zone

 The Kaesong project opened in 2004 as part of a so-called sunshine policy of engagement between the two Koreas.

 The number of South Koreans in the industrial zone has dwindled from the 700 normally needed to keep the factories running to about 170, seen as the minimum number needed to safeguard assets at the 1 trillion won ($894.73 million) park.

 Tensions have been running high after the fresh UN sanctions, which were imposed after North Korea staged a long-range rocket launch and a third nuclear test.

 Pictures:

Remaining S. Korean workers start to leave Kaesong

Kaesong industrial zone may cease to exist

S. Korea to keep Kaesong Industrial Complex open

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