This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23208617
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| North and South Korean talks on Kaesong economic zone | North and South Korean talks on Kaesong economic zone |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Officials from North and South Korea are holding talks on reopening the Kaesong industrial complex. | Officials from North and South Korea are holding talks on reopening the Kaesong industrial complex. |
| The two sides sat down together on Saturday at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone. | The two sides sat down together on Saturday at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone. |
| Work at the factory park was halted in April amid high regional tensions. | |
| Kaesong, a major source of income for the North, was seen as a symbol of inter-Korean ties, and correspondents say its closure showed how serious this year's political tensions were. | |
| Attempts to hold high-level talks last month failed on procedural grounds. | Attempts to hold high-level talks last month failed on procedural grounds. |
| The meeting is being held on the North Korea side of Panmunjom, South Korean officials said. | The meeting is being held on the North Korea side of Panmunjom, South Korean officials said. |
| Seoul suggested the working-level talks on Thursday, a day after Pyongyang said South Korean businessmen could visit the closed complex to inspect and maintain equipment. | Seoul suggested the working-level talks on Thursday, a day after Pyongyang said South Korean businessmen could visit the closed complex to inspect and maintain equipment. |
| Late on Thursday, North Korea accepted the offer, the South said. | Late on Thursday, North Korea accepted the offer, the South said. |
| Prior to operations being suspended, there were around 120 South Korean businesses in the factory park. The companies have been unable to retrieve goods and materials for three months. | Prior to operations being suspended, there were around 120 South Korean businesses in the factory park. The companies have been unable to retrieve goods and materials for three months. |
| Some have since threatened to abandon the zone entirely and relocate their equipment. | Some have since threatened to abandon the zone entirely and relocate their equipment. |
| Pyongyang withdrew its 53,000 workers from the complex in April, apparently angered by tightened UN sanctions in the wake of its nuclear test in February, and annual South Korea-US military drills. | Pyongyang withdrew its 53,000 workers from the complex in April, apparently angered by tightened UN sanctions in the wake of its nuclear test in February, and annual South Korea-US military drills. |
| North Korea also prevented South Korean workers from entering the joint commercial zone. | North Korea also prevented South Korean workers from entering the joint commercial zone. |
| The last South Korean workers left the zone on 3 May. | The last South Korean workers left the zone on 3 May. |
| The talks are very limited but could pave the wave for discussion of bigger issues such as North Korea's nuclear programme, says the BBC's Seoul correspondent Lucy Williamson. | |