Pyongyang demands Seoul clarify stance on industrial zone's future

PYONGYANG, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday urged South Korea to clarify its stance on the future of the suspended Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ).

Seoul distorted the facts concerning the joint zone, the official KCNA news agency quoted a statement of the DPRK's General Bureau for the Special Zone Development Guidance as saying.

Pyongyang would decide its action depending on Seoul's response to its demand for the settlement of "fundamental issues," including a halt to all U.S.-involved joint military drills in South Korea as a precondition for reopening of the KIZ, the statement said.

The statement came in response to Seoul's accusation against Pyongyang for the deadlock over the KIZ, which has been closed since early April.

South Korea's Unification Ministry also urged the DPRK to halt all military provocations that might further escalate tension in the region.

The DPRK Monday fired two more short-range missiles into the East Sea, after launching one on Sunday and three on Saturday, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

Pyongyang said the missile launches were part of a military training for self-defense, and accused Seoul and Washington of preparing for nuclear war with military exercises backed by a nuclear-powered carrier.

"If the south side truly intends to normalize the operation of KIZ, it should not talk about dialogue on unessential issues such as the issue of communications and carrying out of goods but opt for settling basic issues and stop provocative remarks and confrontation against the DPRK," the statement said.

Tensions have been running high on the Korean Peninsula since the DPRK conducted its third nuclear test on Feb. 12 as a countermeasure against the U.S.-South Korean joint military drills.

Pyongyang shut down the industrial complex in early April and pulled out 53,000 DPRK workers. South Korea also withdrew its workers starting on April 26 after Pyongyang rejected Seoul's proposal for working-level talks.

The industrial zone, which is under the joint management of South Korea and the DPRK as one of the key symbols of inter-Korean economic cooperation, is facing the worst crisis since it opened in late 2004.

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