North Korea Takes Missiles away from Launch Site

According to a US official, Pyongyang has removed two medium-range Musudan missiles from the east coast launch site after weeks of tension in the Korean peninsula over a possible test-launch by the North.

The US official (names withheld) told AFP new agency that a report from South Korea’s Yonhap news agency backed up by an unnamed source from the government was released, saying that Pyongyang appeared to have moved the missiles to an unspecified location.

According to military officers, a Musudan missile has an estimated range of about 3,000 to 3,500km.

Giving North Korea’s unpredictable behavior, a senior US official from the National Security Council has warned that it was “premature to celebrate it as good news”, even though the move is a sign of hope that Pyongyang has gone back on its threats to launch the missiles.

Speaking with reporters, Pentagon spokesman George Little said, “I wouldn’t again comment on intelligence. But, what we have seen recently is a ‘provocation pause’. And we think that’s obviously beneficial to efforts to ensure we have peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.”

The move by Pyongyang came just as Barack Obama and Park Guen-Hye, presidents of the US and South Korea respectively, were preparing to meet at a summit in Washington.

Only last month, there were indications that Pyongyang was preparing for a missile launch. But, the test launch was going to be in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718 of 2006, which prohibits the North from conducting any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile.

John Kerry, US Secretary of State, had issued a warning to Pyongyang that it would be a “huge mistake” to launch the missiles, even as Japan and South Korea strengthened their missiles defences, and the US sent over their heavy artillery to the area in preparation of any possible launch from Pyongyang.

North Korea Ignores Deadline for Formal Talks on Kaesong

In the recent weeks of deteriorated relations between, North Korea and South Korea, South Korea proposed formal talks on Kaesong Industrial Complex, urging the North to take advantage of the offer before noon on Friday. But, Pyongyang has ignored their neighbors on talks that would see operations restart at the joint industrial zone.

Initially, Seoul had warned Pyongyang of ‘grave measures’ if they declined the offer which was due to expire in 24 hours from Thursday. More than 120 South Korean companies operated at Kaesong before Pyongyang suspended operations on April 9.

Apparently, the workers were ordered to stop coming to work because the government was upset by the ‘military’ contingency plan set up by Seoul to protect its staff at the site

Kaesong was a product of a symbolic co-operation between the Koreans. The North’s sudden decision to suspend its operations was unexpected. The average salary of North Korean workers is $127 a month, which is less than one-sixteenth of the average salary of South Korean manufacturer workers, according to South Korea’s government.

With the borders closed by North Korea, the food and medical supplies of the South Koreans staying behind to protect their investment, is dwindling.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye told South Korean journalists, ‘how the Kaesong issue is handled will be a touchstone for whether South-North relations will be predictable and sustainable. I want the issue to be resolved quickly, but I would say there should not be a solution like funneling aid, as has happened in the past.’

A spokesman for the South Korean companies, Ok Sung-Seok, said that his government has decided to protect the industrial complex no matter what difficulties they may face.

Staff in Kaesong zone in North to be Withdrawn by Seoul After North's Rejection

After North Korea rejected offer of formal talks to restart operations at the Kaesong industrial zone, Seoul has decided to withdraw all 175 of its citizens, according to an official with the government.

North Korea blocked access to the Kaesong zone earlier this month, and then withdrew its workers from the zone, while South Korean company owners stayed behind to protect their investments.

Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said, ''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 unavoidaable decision to bring back all remaining personnel in order to protect their safety.''

He added, ''North Korea must guarantee the safe return of our personnel and fully protect the assets of the companies with investment in Kaesong.''

As tensions remain high in the region, the future of the last and only major symbol of cooperation between the Koreans is in question.

Earlier, the National Defence Commission of Pyongyang had complained that the US-South Korean military drills, coupled with the sharing of anti-North Korea leaflets at the border were proofs of its insincerity towards the demand for working-level talks.