Koreas agree to hold talks to restart joint factory amid sinking relations
6/6/2013SEOUL — North and South Korea have agreed to hold talks on reopening a jointly run factory complex in the North and possibly other issues, a hopeful sign for relations that have deteriorated greatly in recent months.
North Korea said today it is open to holding talks with South Korea on reopening the Kaesong complex, which was shuttered in April. Pyongyang’s statement was carried by state media and was its first public response to Seoul’s proposal in April to discuss the factory complex.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said in a text message that it “positively accepts” the North Korean announcement and added that it will announce the date and agenda of talks later.
Relations between the Koreas sank following a December satellite launch and a February nuclear test by the North.