S Korea, DPRK hold sub-panel talks on Kaesong complex
24 January 2014, 10:49
South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held the sub-panel talks Friday to discuss operation of electronics passage system and adoption of the Internet at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, the DPRK' s border town. 'As scheduled, the Kaesong industrial zone's subcommittee on communications, passage and customs began the talks as of 10 a.m.,'Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do told a routine press briefing.
Kim said that the fourth round of sub-panel meeting, the first of this kind this year, planned to discuss operation of the radio frequency identification (RFID) system, customs process simplification and introduction of the Internet connectivity at the inter-Korean factory park.
Construction of the RFID system, which had been launched on Dec. 11, 2013, was completed on Jan. 15 this year to allow South Korean workers to visit the Kaesong factory park and return home at any time on days when they are permitted to visit the site.
Currently, South Korea should fax a list of workers to the DPRK a day before their trip to the joint industrial zone. The DPRK has allowed only those on the list to travel to the zone during a designated time.
After test-running the electronic passage system, the RFID was expected to be operated at the Kaesong complex in late January.
Regarding the streamlining of the customs process, the two Koreas agreed to change it from the all inspection to the selective examination, but differences remained over what ratio will be applied to the selective probe.
Discussions on the Internet connectivity were known to be still in the infant stage.
The Kaesong industrial complex, the last remaining symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation, is home to 120 South Korean small companies that produce mostly labor-intensive products such as shoes and garments.
Voice of Russia, Xinhua
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