Gov't to suspend operations of Kaesong Industrial Complex

President Park Geun-hye has taken out her ultimate card against North Korea's nuclear provocation by ordering the suspension of the Kaesong industrial complex operations. After raising the stakes by reactivating loudspeakers immediately after the North's fourth nuclear test last month, President Park has sent a clear message that she won't yield an inch on North Korean nuclear and national security issues.

Amid an ongoing inter-Korean confrontation, there is mounting tension in the Korean Peninsula. The Resumption of the Kaesong complex seems unlikely unless the North gives up its nuclear ambitions, meaning there will be little momentum for talks between the two Koreas for the time being.

South Korean Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo held Wednesday an emergency press conference where he said, "We've decided to suspend Kaesong Industrial Complex operations starting from February 10," adding, "We're strengthening sanctions to block North Korea's nuclear and missile acceleration, and the Kaesong complex should not be used for developing weapons of mass destruction."

Speaking of the reason of suspending Kaesong complex operations, Hong said, "The North Korean authorities receive various aids by the international society every year, but are pouring billions of dollars in developing weapons of mass destruction, which shows that the country is completely neglecting the pain its people are going through," adding, "We can't just leave such behaviors from repeating."

The South Korean government is examining suspending power and water supplies in the industrial complex. It said the resumption of the complex will be possible when North Korea resolves anxiety of the international society on nuclear and missile development. This means the South will not open the complex unless the North gives up its nuclear weapons, which in turn means a de facto closure of the complex.

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