ARIRANG NEWS 14:00 S. Korean businessmen hold wage talks for Kaesong complex with N. Korea

Details

Description

ARIRANG NEWS 14:00
Thanks for tuning in. You′re watching Arirang News. It′s 2 p.m. here in Seoul. I′m Laah Hyun-kyung. The stroes we′re tracking for you at this hour...
A group of directors of South Korean companies operating at the inter-Korean factory complex in Kaesong travels to North Korea this morning for talks on Pyongyang′s recent unilateral wage hike.
South Korean military sources reportedly say ALL defense issues between Seoul and Washington will be discussed at next month′s regular defense meeting. That will include the controversial issue of THAAD deployment.
And the latest data shows... that the nation′s real unemployment rate hit a record high last month. It′s much higher than the official rate of 4-point-6 percent.
Title: S. Korean businessmen hold wage talks for Kaesong complex with N. Korea
We begin with a group of South Korean businessmen crossing the border to talk with North Korean officials about Pyongyang′s recent wage hike at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
They have wrapped up a two-hour long meeting just about an hour ago... and are expected to return later this afternoon.
Will they bring back a solution that will ease tensions... heightened since North Korea made the wage decision without consulting Seoul last month?
Here′s Arirang′s Hwang Sung-hee.
Departing for the border town on Wednesday morning, the South Korean businessmen said the Kaesong Industrial Complex must be free of political tensions.

"We will explain to the North Korean officials about the problems that can arise from a unilateral revision of regulations in the overall management of the complex and ask for the park to be managed according to previous agreements."
The group′s representative blamed anti-North Korea leaflet launches by South Korean activists for stirring up tensions and halting talks between the Koreas.
He said the upcoming leaflet campaign scheduled for March 26th must be called off.
The representative added that North Korea′s demands a wage hike for their workers from the current 70 U.S. dollars a month to 74 dollars and a revision of regulations are things that could be resolved through dialogue.
The joint business park, which was suspended for five months in 2013 amid heightened tensions, is the last remaining link of inter-Korean economic cooperation.
The businessmen said another shutdown would not be in North Korea′s interest.

"The North Korean government does not want major obstructions to the complex like a complete suspension of operations. These can be resolved through dialogue."

But still, the companies are in a tough spot, as the South Korean government has warned of legal and administrative countermeasures against firms that abide by Pyongyang′s demands.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News, Paju.
Title: S. Korea says it will make its own decision on possible deployment of U.S. missile defense system
After China and the U.S. made their stance clear this week about the possible deploymen