Seoul:
South Korea said on Friday it will pull out all remaining workers from the Kaesong industrial zone in North Korea after Pyongyang rejected a call for formal talks to resolve a standoff that led to a suspension of operations at the complex.
"Because our nationals remaining in the Kaesong industrial zone are experiencing greater difficulties due to the North's unjust actions, the government has come to the unavoidable decision to bring back all remaining personnel in order to protect their safety," said Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae.
About 170 South Koreans are in Kaesong, which is just on the North Korean side of the border with the South.
The North withdrew its 53,000 workers from the complex this month amid spiralling tension between the two Koreas.
The North has prevented South Korean workers and supplies from getting in to the zone since April 3.
"Because our nationals remaining in the Kaesong industrial zone are experiencing greater difficulties due to the North's unjust actions, the government has come to the unavoidable decision to bring back all remaining personnel in order to protect their safety," said Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae.
About 170 South Koreans are in Kaesong, which is just on the North Korean side of the border with the South.
The North withdrew its 53,000 workers from the complex this month amid spiralling tension between the two Koreas.
The North has prevented South Korean workers and supplies from getting in to the zone since April 3.
© Thomson Reuters 2013
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