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북한이 26일 남측에서 제안한 개성공단 실무회담을 거절한데 이어 우리 정부가 잔류 공단잔류인원 전원 철수를 결정하면서 개성공단의 앞날은 한층 더 어두워졌다.
류길재 통일부 장관은 이날 정부 성명을 통해 “북한의 부당한 조치로 개성공단에 체류하는 우리 국민의 어려움이 더 커지고 있는 바 정부는 우리 국민 보호를 위해 잔류 인원 전원을 귀환시키는 불가피한 결정을 내리게 됐다”고 발표했다.
정부는 이날 북한이 실무회담 거절 의사를 밝히자 박근혜 대통령 주재 하에 외교안보장관 회의를 열고, 개성공단 사태에 대한 정부의 대응방안을 논의한 뒤 이번 결정을 내렸다.
박 대통령은 회의에서 “가장 좋은 방법은 개성공단을 정상화하는 것이겠지만 무 작정 한없이 기다려야 하는 건지, 국민들의 희생이 너무 크다”고 밝혔다.
류길재 통일부 장관은 이날 정부 성명을 통해 “북한의 부당한 조치로 개성공단에 체류하는 우리 국민의 어려움이 더 커지고 있는 바 정부는 우리 국민 보호를 위해 잔류 인원 전원을 귀환시키는 불가피한 결정을 내리게 됐다”고 발표했다.
정부는 이날 북한이 실무회담 거절 의사를 밝히자 박근혜 대통령 주재 하에 외교안보장관 회의를 열고, 개성공단 사태에 대한 정부의 대응방안을 논의한 뒤 이번 결정을 내렸다.
박 대통령은 회의에서 “가장 좋은 방법은 개성공단을 정상화하는 것이겠지만 무 작정 한없이 기다려야 하는 건지, 국민들의 희생이 너무 크다”고 밝혔다.
류 장관은 북측에 “철수와 관련하여 제기되는 신변안전보장대책을 포함한 모든 인도주의적 조치들은 우리의 유관기관들에서 책임적으로 취해주게 될 것”을 촉구했다.
류 장관은 또한 “정부는 입주기업들이 정상적인 기업 활동을 계속해 나갈 수 있도록 범정부적인 지원을 다해 나갈 것”이라고 말했다.
북한 국방위원회는 이날 낮, 우리 정부가 25일 발표한 제의를 두고 “우리를 우롱하는 최후통첩식 성명”이라며 “남조선 괴뢰패당이 계속 사태의 악화를 추구한다면 우리가 먼저 최종적이며 결정적인 중대조치를 취할 수도 있을 것”이라고 밝혔다.
앞서 통일부는 전날 개성공단 남북실무회담을 북측에 제의하면서 “북한이 우리 측이 제의하는 당국간 회담마저 거부한다면 우리로선 중대한 조치를 취하지 않을 수 없다”고 경고한 바 있다.
이에 국방위원회 정책국 대변인은 이날 담화에서 “북남관계를 전쟁국면에 몰아 넣은 주범들이 기만적인 당국간 회담설이나 내돌리며 우리에게 최후통첩식 중대조치라는 것을 운운해 댄다면 그것은 최후 파멸만 촉진케 할 뿐”이라 선언했다고 조선중앙방송과 평양방송이 전했다.
이어 북한은 남측이 개성공단 인력을 철수해도 개의치 않는다는 입장을 거듭 드러냈다. 이와 관련, “개성공업지구에 남아 있는 인원들의 생명이 걱정된다면 남측으로 모든 인원을 전원 철수하면 될 것”이라며 “철수와 관련하여 제기되는 신변안전보장대책을 포함한 모든 인도주의적 조치들은 우리의 유관기관들에서 책임적으로 취해주게 될 것”이라고 말했다. (코리아 헤럴드 신현희 기자/번역 이상주)
<관련 영문 기사>
S. Korea to pull workers from Gaeseong
By Shin Hyon-hee
South Korea decided Friday to withdraw its all citizens from the Gaeseong industrial park after the North rejected its offer of talks to normalize the last symbol of cross-border cooperation.
The Unification Ministry demanded Pyongyang guarantee the safe return of some 175 remaining workers and protect the assets of South Korean businesses.
“As North Korea’s unjustified steps are aggravating our citizens’ difficulties, the government has come to make the inevitable decision to return home all the remaining people for their safety,” Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said at a news conference.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting of President Park Geun-hye and top foreign affairs and national security officials after the North refused Seoul’s call on Thursday for talks to restart the complex.
“The best way should be to normalize the complex but do we have to wait blindly, endlessly? That’s too great of sacrifices for the people,” Park said as she opened the session.
“The damage is increasing for the firms, workers and their families as North Korea rejected our request made on the humanitarian aspect for the entry of such necessities as foodstuffs and medicine.”
Losses for the factories have been snowballing since Pyongyang barred the entry of South Korean employees and cargoes on April 4 and withdrew its 53,000 employees on April 9, effectively halting operations.
The suspension followed a weeks-long torrent of North Korean military threats since South Korea and the U.S. began military drills and the U.N. levied sanctions last month over a nuclear test.
The remaining people, largely executives and plant managers, are subsisting on ramen, snacks and other instant food stored for night shifts. A soaring number of firms is reporting order cancellations, a buyer exodus and liquidity crunch.
The government on Wednesday introduced a comprehensive package to shore up the 123 firms, including new loans, grace periods, early tax refunds, and delays of tax audits and due dates for tax and utility bill payment.
Earlier in the day, the North’s National Defense Commission rejected Seoul’s proposal, calling it a “mockery” and striking back with a threat of preemptive action.
“If the South’s puppet forces continue to exacerbate the situation we may first take final and conclusive action,” a spokesperson of the powerful body said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
“It will only precipitate their final ruin if the main culprits who have pushed the inter-Korean relations to the brink of war speak of grave action like an ultimatum while circulating deceitful words about government-level talks.”
The NDC said it did not mind even if the South Korean government moved all its remaining citizens out of Gaeseong for safety concerns.
“All humanitarian steps associated with their withdrawal including personal safety guarantees will be responsibly taken by our relevant institutions,” it said.
The Unification Ministry has already notified the North of its plan by phone and begun related consultations, a senior official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
South Korean businesses operating in Gaeseong expressed regret over the decision.
“The government’s decision to recall the remaining personnel comes as a shock, and the position of the companies will be conveyed once all their opinions have been gathered,” said Han Jae-kwon, head of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex Companies Association.
“Compensation is for later. We will see if the government wants normalization and if it has the will to achieve normalization.”
On Thursday they vowed not to “relinquish but firmly defend our right assured by the two governments.”
“We hope the 50-year investment guarantee, which was agreed by the two Koreas (in 2003), will be firmly kept.”
They primary concern is about a possible retaliation from Pyongyang such as confiscating their equipment and other remaining assets, as it did after the cease of tours to Mount Geumgang in 2008 when a South Korean tourist was shot to death by a North Korean soldier.
The ministry official said he expected and would request the companies’ understanding and cooperation, saying the plan was the government’s duty to protect its citizens and their property.
“Today’s decision may result in an effective suspension of the complex but is not about its closure. Our goal is still to ensure Gaeseong’s stable operation and development,” he said. (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
S. Korea to pull workers from Gaeseong
By Shin Hyon-hee
South Korea decided Friday to withdraw its all citizens from the Gaeseong industrial park after the North rejected its offer of talks to normalize the last symbol of cross-border cooperation.
The Unification Ministry demanded Pyongyang guarantee the safe return of some 175 remaining workers and protect the assets of South Korean businesses.
“As North Korea’s unjustified steps are aggravating our citizens’ difficulties, the government has come to make the inevitable decision to return home all the remaining people for their safety,” Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said at a news conference.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting of President Park Geun-hye and top foreign affairs and national security officials after the North refused Seoul’s call on Thursday for talks to restart the complex.
“The best way should be to normalize the complex but do we have to wait blindly, endlessly? That’s too great of sacrifices for the people,” Park said as she opened the session.
“The damage is increasing for the firms, workers and their families as North Korea rejected our request made on the humanitarian aspect for the entry of such necessities as foodstuffs and medicine.”
Losses for the factories have been snowballing since Pyongyang barred the entry of South Korean employees and cargoes on April 4 and withdrew its 53,000 employees on April 9, effectively halting operations.
The suspension followed a weeks-long torrent of North Korean military threats since South Korea and the U.S. began military drills and the U.N. levied sanctions last month over a nuclear test.
The remaining people, largely executives and plant managers, are subsisting on ramen, snacks and other instant food stored for night shifts. A soaring number of firms is reporting order cancellations, a buyer exodus and liquidity crunch.
The government on Wednesday introduced a comprehensive package to shore up the 123 firms, including new loans, grace periods, early tax refunds, and delays of tax audits and due dates for tax and utility bill payment.
Earlier in the day, the North’s National Defense Commission rejected Seoul’s proposal, calling it a “mockery” and striking back with a threat of preemptive action.
“If the South’s puppet forces continue to exacerbate the situation we may first take final and conclusive action,” a spokesperson of the powerful body said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
“It will only precipitate their final ruin if the main culprits who have pushed the inter-Korean relations to the brink of war speak of grave action like an ultimatum while circulating deceitful words about government-level talks.”
The NDC said it did not mind even if the South Korean government moved all its remaining citizens out of Gaeseong for safety concerns.
“All humanitarian steps associated with their withdrawal including personal safety guarantees will be responsibly taken by our relevant institutions,” it said.
The Unification Ministry has already notified the North of its plan by phone and begun related consultations, a senior official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
South Korean businesses operating in Gaeseong expressed regret over the decision.
“The government’s decision to recall the remaining personnel comes as a shock, and the position of the companies will be conveyed once all their opinions have been gathered,” said Han Jae-kwon, head of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex Companies Association.
“Compensation is for later. We will see if the government wants normalization and if it has the will to achieve normalization.”
On Thursday they vowed not to “relinquish but firmly defend our right assured by the two governments.”
“We hope the 50-year investment guarantee, which was agreed by the two Koreas (in 2003), will be firmly kept.”
They primary concern is about a possible retaliation from Pyongyang such as confiscating their equipment and other remaining assets, as it did after the cease of tours to Mount Geumgang in 2008 when a South Korean tourist was shot to death by a North Korean soldier.
The ministry official said he expected and would request the companies’ understanding and cooperation, saying the plan was the government’s duty to protect its citizens and their property.
“Today’s decision may result in an effective suspension of the complex but is not about its closure. Our goal is still to ensure Gaeseong’s stable operation and development,” he said. (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
