SEOUL, June 19 (RIA Novosti) - Officials from North
and South Korea held a round of talks in Seoul on Friday on the
future of the Kaesong industrial park to the north of the
border, the last remaining cooperation venture between the
countries.
The talks started early on Friday and lasted for around 90
minutes. Neither side has yet shown signs of compromise on
several disputes, but the talks could be resumed later in the
day, Yonhap news agency said.
The South Korean side demanded the release of a Hyundai
Asan Corp. employee who has been held by the North since late
March, while Pyongyang demanded a 3,000 % hike in rent for the
site to keep operations.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo told reporters
on Friday: "Our door is always open to North Korea to engage in
dialogue, to discuss topics of mutual concern and cooperation."
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak earlier called
Pyongyang's wage hike demands "unacceptable."
More than 100 South Korean companies operate and 40,000
North Koreans are employed at the Kaesong complex, located
about an hour's drive from Seoul.
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