Situated north of the DMZ, the Kaesong complex was established in 2002 during the “Sunshine Policy” of South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who sought better relations with Seoul’s northern neighbor. The US has nearly 30,000 troops in South Korea, where it houses superior weaponry such as Apache attack helicopters and F-16 fighter jets.
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It is a further precautionary step from the measure taken last Thursday, in which the Ministry of Unification restricted entry of South Koreans to only those whose work at the industrial park and is directly related to production activities.
North Korea has expanded propaganda broadcasts in border areas in response to South Korea’s resumption of such broadcasts, a Seoul official said on Monday.
World powers are looking for ways to punish the North over its disputed bomb test, which, even if were not of a hydrogen bomb, is still likely to have pushed Pyongyang closer to its goal of a nuclear-armed missile that can reach the USA mainland.
Jeong said the minimum number will be adjusted from the current 800 people or so to about 650.
On the diplomatic front, South Korea said its chief nuclear negotiator planned to meet his US and Japanese counterparts on Wednesday to discuss a response to North Korea, and the next day, he would meet China’s nuclear envoy in Beijing.
Outside North Korea, Kim faces widespread condemnation and threats of heavy sanctions over the North’s disputed claim of a hydrogen bomb test. Internally, however, Kim’s massive propaganda apparatus has looked to link the test to Kim’s leadership so as to glorify him and portray the test as necessary to combat a US-led attempt to topple the North’s authoritarian system.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye is to speak to the nation about raised tensions with the North on Wednesday, a presidential official said.
“Gone are days never to return when the US could threaten the DPRK with nuclear weapons”, said ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun. Lt Gen Terrence O’Shaughnessy said the US was committed to defending its ally South Korea. Several months later, North Korea shelled South Korea’s Yeonyeong Island – killing four South Koreans – saying it had been provoked by Seoul’s annual military exercises. “But there are no immediate signs of any imminent provocation”.
Mr Kim congratulated them on “succeeding in the first H-bomb test… and bringing about a great, historic event”, the North’s official KCNA news agency reported.
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“B-52 missions reinforce the U.S. commitment to the security of our allies and partners and demonstrate one of the many alliance capabilities available for the defense of the Republic of Korea”.
