">Forum Views () 
">Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
NKorea reopens border to SKoreans at showpiece zone  
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
Navigation
Primary Navigation
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
 
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
 
Search
 
 
Search:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NKorea reopens border to SKoreans at showpiece zone
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFP - Wednesday, March 18
SEOUL, (AFP) - - North Korea Tuesday reopened its border to South Koreans bound for a showpiece industrial estate in the secretive nation, ending a sporadic blockade which threatened to shut down factories there.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
 
  
The North gave no explanation for its change of heart, which comes amid continuing high tensions between the two governments.
The communist state has for months been angry at a tougher stance on relations taken by Seoul's conservative government. It has blasted an ongoing US-South Korean military exercise, calling it a prelude to invasion.
The North has also scheduled what it calls a satellite launch for April 4-8.
Washington and Seoul say Pyongyang's real purpose is to test a long-range missile, in defiance of a United Nations resolution passed after its missile and nuclear tests of 2006.
China expressed concern at the growing uncertainty but did not comment directly on the planned launch.
"At present, the situation on the Korean peninsula is rather complicated, with an increasing number of uncertain factors," said foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
"We express concern over this," Qin said, hours after the North's Premier Kim Yong-Il began what China's media termed a five-day goodwill visit.
"We hope relevant parties can work to settle relevant issues through dialogue, maintain common restraint, maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region."
China is one of Pyongyang's few major allies and its largest trade partner.
The border closure began on March 9, the first day of the military exercise. The North switched off military phone and fax lines that were used to authorise border crossings, before relenting the following day.
Last Friday it again shut the border without explanation, raising fears that many South Korean plants at the Kaesong estate would soon have to close for lack of raw materials.
Seoul officials said the North's military Tuesday sent a letter authorising the resumption of trips both ways. Again, there was no explanation.
Kaesong estate opened in 2005 as a symbol of reconciliation but its operations have several times been hampered by political tensions.
About 39,000 North Koreans work for 98 South Korean firms, producing items such as watches, clothes, shoes and kitchenware. Raw materials are trucked northwards and finished products travel the other way.
Koh Yu-Hwan, a professor at Seoul's Dongguk University, said the saga may indicate a lack of communications between the North's military and its economy-related agencies.
"In order to protest the US-South Korean military exercise, the North's military may have cut off border communications lines without thinking enough about the impact the move would have on economic and other sectors," he told AFP.
Unification ministry spokesman Kim Ho-Nyoun said traffic was moving smoothly Tuesday but the situation remained "very unstable".
"This is North Korea's responsibility," he said.
The Kaesong estate last year earned the impoverished North 26.8 million dollars in wages for workers, which are paid directly to official bodies.
At the Imjingak frontier area, Seoul rights activists launched 10 giant balloons Tuesday across the border. They carried a total of 100,000 leaflets denouncing the North's regime and its leader, Kim Jong-Il.
"Down with Kim Jong-Il dictatorship!" read a message on one balloon.
The activists have started attaching North Korean banknotes to the flyers to encourage Northerners to pick them up, despite the risk of punishment.
The Seoul government has urged them to halt the launches, on the grounds that they could inflame relations, but says it has no laws to ban them.
However the activists have been investigated for attaching North Korean won. Seoul says unauthorised use of the currency in the South is punishable by up to three years in jail or heavy fines.
 
 
 
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
 
 
   
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
  
Related Articles: China's Economy
Obama defends tackling many problems at same timeAP - 1 hour 16 minutes ago
More business travellers flying economy-airlines bodyReuters - 1 hour 44 minutes ago
TOPWRAP 5-U.S. housing market offers hope on economyReuters - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
German official meets with GM execsAP - 2 hours 30 minutes ago
Related Articles: Business
Obama defends tackling many problems at same timeAP - 1 hour 16 minutes ago
Iraq sees big wheat buy, no new US rice-officialReuters - 1 hour 34 minutes ago
Bank of Japan mulls lending $10B to banksAP - 1 hour 40 minutes ago
New-home construction logs unexpected gainAP - 1 hour 43 minutes ago
More business travellers flying economy-airlines bodyReuters - 1 hour 44 minutes ago
 
 
 
 
 
 Enlarge Photo
 
NKorea reopens border to SKoreans at showpiece zone
 
 
 
Related Full Coverage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 China Economy
 
china economy
 
 
All Full Coverage
 
 
 
 
Most Popular – Business
 
 
 
 
 
 Viewed
 
 
 
 
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan
 
 
For sale: nagging wife, very high maintenance
 
 
Twin boys for Charlie Sheen and wife
 
 
World Bank warns of "very dangerous" year ahead
 
 
OPEC chief demands rich nations act on crisis
 
 
View Complete List »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy 
- Terms of Service 
- Community 
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
- Help
        
    
 
   
 
Other News on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 U.S. forces shot down Iranian drone over Iraq
| International
|  
Differences remain in talks over Israeli soldier
| International
|  
Merkel says EU must consolidate before growing
| International
|  
Life in North Korea dire and desperate, U.N. forum told
| International
|  
U.N. aid workers freed after kidnap in Somalia
| International
|  
Kuwait ruler accepts cabinet resignation in new crisis
| International
|  
Hearst prints final Seattle PI as newspapers dwindle
| Technology
|  
E-prescribing to soar with new spending
| Technology
|  
Phone firms seek low bar for broadband grants
| Technology
|  
Cisco to sell servers aimed at data centers
| Technology
|  
Obama to appear on the Tonight Show
| Entertainment
|  
Elvis memorabilia offered in online auction
| Entertainment
|  
Bands often scalp tickets: Nine Inch Nails' Reznor
| Entertainment
|  
Egypt author wins Arab fiction prize for Beelzebub
| Entertainment
|  
Madagascar's president isolated but defiant
| International
|  
US military shoots down Iranian drone  
No deal reached in Israel-Hamas prisoner talks  
Reformist Khatami quits Iran presidential race  
Britain's Brown says should have curbed markets  
Israel says Hamas hardens stance in soldier release talks  
Chrysler insists it will avoid bankruptcy  
Khatami pulls out of Iran's presidential race  
OPEC chief demands rich nations act on crisis  
US military says Iraqi girl killed in US shooting  
In power, El Salvador ex-rebels seek U.S. ties
| International
|  
US intervenes to boost small business loans  
Sudan wants foreign groups to stop distributing aid  
Iran's Khatami says out of presidential race
| International
|  
Turkey disregards minority rights in schools  
Shooting inside Madagascar presidency: AFP  
North Korean premier lauds China as regional anchor
| International
|  
Iraqis most upbeat since 2003: poll  
US industrial output falls to 2002 low  
Best view in Rio? Pushing limits of slum tourism
| International
|  
Iraqi fan kills soccer player in close game  
Riot police quell protest as water forum opens  
Modernization poses new challenges for Tibetans
| International
|  
More flee as Sri Lanka rebels mount suicide attack
| International
|  
INSIDE WASHINGTON: Rivalry stymies wind-power goal  
8 Dems oppose quick debate on global warming bill  
EU 'fact-finding' mission on Guantanamo inmates  
U.S. raises new anti-terrorism approach with EU  
Red Cross report renews call for probe of Bush era  
Intel says AMD breached patent licensing pact  
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,259  
www@20: How the techies tamed the cyber zoo  
Mexico retaliates with tariffs on 90 US products  
Apple Mac U.S. units down 16 pct in February: NPD  
Cisco to go head-to-head with HP, IBM  
Peace Corps pulls out of Madagascar due to unrest  
US says it shot down Iran drone north of Baghdad  
Hearst prints final Seattle PI as newspapers dwindle  
Thousands of Tamils decry Sri Lankan 'genocide'  
Cisco to sell servers aimed at data centers  
Baptized by Fire: Men of Killer Blue face future  
Russian woman held for eating friend: report  
Potty-mouthed video game grabs profanity record  
Vatican website to be available in Chinese  
Zombies, stories and wordplay win SXSW Web awards  
Phone firms seek low bar for broadband grants  
NGO expelled from Darfur considered ICC cooperation
| International
|  
Malaysian lawmaker charged with sedition  
Obama faces shoot-down dilemma with NKorea launch  
NKorea premier visits China amid missile tensions  
9th Australian soldier dies in Afghanistan  
NATO soldier dies after attack in Afghan south  
China labor activist free after 7 years jail  
Hearst prints final Seattle PI
| Technology
|  
Philippine unemployment rises: govt  
"Traveler's Wife" to embark this summer  
Elvis memorabilia offered in online auction
| Technology
|  
Bomb lobbed at police station in China's west  
Japanese fashion robot to hit Tokyo catwalks
| Technology
|  
NKorean premier arrives in China amid tensions  
Intel says AMD breached patent licensing pact
| Technology
|  
No Japan-China summit this month: officials  
Shanghai probes waterlogged beef food scare  
Apple Mac U.S. units down 16 pct in February: NPD
| Technology
|  
Disney cuts 30 jobs in HK as park expansion stalls  
S.Korea says raised US swap extension during G20  
Rudd, Segel bring perfect chemistry to bromance  
Taiwan dollar scales 1-week high on econ optimism  
White House: Obama to appear on Leno's show  
South Korean bonds rise on extra budget plan  
Steve-O skips `Dancing' because of back injury  
Seoul shares up;stronger won lifts banks, airlines  
Tween "Dora" won't be a bad girl, say guardians  
S.Korean department stores enjoy brisk sales on won drop  
DJ AM seeks $20 million for plane crash damages  
Connick set to receive honorary Tulane degree  
'Good Negro' examines '60s civil rights movement  
"The Greatest" inks distribution deal with Senator  
Indonesia wants solution for Myanmar boat people  
Review: Rudd, Segel elevate `I Love You, Man'  
'Witch Mountain' casts box office spell  
Family Guy wins court battle over song
| Entertainment
|  
Tween Dora won't be a bad girl, say guardians
| Entertainment
|  
Heath Ledger's music videos come to light
| Entertainment
|  
Rudd, Segel bring perfect chemistry to bromance
| Entertainment
|  
Andy Samberg to host MTV movie awards
| Entertainment
|  
Sopranos creator Chase reveals Dreams for HBO
| Entertainment
|  
Traveler's Wife to embark this summer
| Entertainment
|  
The Greatest inks distribution deal with Senator
| Entertainment
|  
Pope begins Africa tour
| International
|  
Hamas says hopes Israel will resume talks on soldier  
Israel could use ballistic missiles against Iran: report
| International
|  
Iran's Khatami says out of presidential race  
American U.N. official kidnapped in Pakistan said sick
| International
|  
Iraq urges execution of Saddam-era officials
| International
|  
EU faces protests despite recovery signs  
Hamas says hopes Israel will resume talks on soldier
| International
|  
Curb climate change to save polar bear: Norway  
Darfur peacekeeper killed in ambush: force spokesman
| International
|  
Pope takes off on first trip to Africa  
North Korea slows disablement pace further: report
| International
|  
Isolated Madagascar president faces end of reign  
More flee as Sri Lanka rebels mount suicide attack
| International
|  
Miniature carnivore dinosaurs roamed North America  
Pakistan to restore democracy in key province: PM
| International
|  
UV light can zap TB in hospitals: study  
Curb climate change to save polar bear: Norway  
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop
| Technology
|  
Nokia to cut 1,700 jobs in sinking phone market
| Technology
|  
India leaders blog, text to plug in to young voters
| Technology
|  
US-TECH Summary  
Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008  
Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008
| Technology
|  
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop  
India leaders blog, text to plug in to young voters  
Money management sites promise financial salvation  
Japanese fashion robot to hit Tokyo catwalks  
US-TECH Summary  
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop  
Amy Winehouse denies assault charge
| Entertainment
|  
Natasha Richardson critically injured
| Entertainment
|  
India: Nehru relative to face hate crime charges  
China voices concern as tensions flare in Koreas  
12 SKoreans who survived Yemem bombing return home  
Malaysia's leadership battle hit with corruption probe  
China's milk victims complain of intimidation  
Pakistan to restore democracy in key province  
Bomb blast in Tibetan area: police  
China concerned over situation on Korean peninsula  
Yemen bomber posed for pics with SKoreans: report  
China phone carrier expands data network to Europe  
Imus in Mass. a day after his cancer announcement  
Bank of Japan announces fresh crisis measures  
Amy Winehouse pleads not guilty to assault  
South Korea to propose $12 bln stimulus package  
Natasha Richardson reportedly critically hurt in accident  
Philippine unemployment rises 7.7 percent  
Amy Winehouse denies assault charge  
Tyra: `Top Model' auditions to resume after melee  
Kyrgyz deficit to be covered by Russian aid  
Screenwriter Millard Kaufman dies at 92  
S.Korea to sell up to 19 trln won bonds for budget  
The dark side of Cuban cigars  
HK's jobless rate rises to 5 percent, 3-year high  
Hong Kong moves to send plastic bags packing  
Elbit's Elisra gets $25 mln South Korea contract  
NKorea reopens border to SKoreans at showpiece zone  
Indonesian plane badly damaged in runway mishap  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights