North Korea orders
a military takeover of a factory park that had been shared with South Korea.
PAJU, South Korea — North Korea on Thursday ordered a military takeover of a factory park that had been the last major symbol of cooperation with South Korea, calling Seoul’s earlier suspension of operations at the jointly run facility as punishment for the North’s recent rocket launch a “dangerous declaration of war.”
North Korea said it was responding to Seoul’s shutdown order by deporting hundreds of South Koreans who worked at the complex just across the world’s most heavily armed border in the city of Kaesong, pulling out the tens of thousands of North Korean employees and freezing all South Korean assets.
The North also said it was shutting down two cross-border communication hotlines.
Hours after a deadline set by North Korea passed, South Korea’s government said all of the 280 South Korean workers who had been at the facility had returned to the South.
Tensions have risen since North Korea’s nuclear test last month, followed by its long-range rocket launch Sunday that outsiders see as a banned test of ballistic missile technology. South Korea responded Thursday by beginning work to suspend operations at the factory park, one of its harshest possible punishment options.
South Korea said it would ban reporters from the border crossing Friday.
Seoul’s Defense Ministry said its military has been on high alert since the North’s nuclear test last month.
Seoul said its decision on Kaesong was an effort to stop North Korea from using hard currency earned from the park to pay for its nuclear and missile programs.
The factory park, which started producing goods in 2004, has provided $560 million in cash to North Korea, South Korean Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said.