S. Korean president voices disappointment at DPRK's Kaesong suspension

SEOUL, April 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday voiced her disappointment over the tentative suspension of the Kaesong Industrial Complex by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"It is very disappointing that North Korea (DPRK) said yesterday that it would tentatively halt operations of the Kaesong industrial complex that have been running normally," Park said during a Cabinet meeting.

Park noted that "until when should we repeat this endless vicious circle of (the DPRK's) creating crisis before compromising and offering aid, and creating crisis again before compromising and aid."

She said that no country and company will invest in the DPRK if Pyongyang flouts international regulations and promises, adding that predictability and trust are the most important premise for investment.

Her comments came after the DPRK announced its decision to withdraw all its workers from the joint industrial park at the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, effectively closing operations at the inter-Korean industrial zone that is housing 123 South Korean companies.

Park said that if normal operations at the Kaesong complex become difficult, South Korea's state funds for inter-Korean cooperation will be used to compensate companies for damages from the suspension, cautioning that it will inevitably lead to a reduction in the fund usage for inter-Korean cooperation and exchanges.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung told reporters that "there is no change in the government's stance that the Kaesong industrial complex should continue to operate normally, " denying some media reports that the presidential office has been drawing up measures with the shutdown of the industrial zone in mind.

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