Koreas discuss border entry system, communication for joint factory park

Despite persistent cross-border tension, the two Koreas began their third round of talks Friday on how to make South Koreans' access easier to a joint factory park in the North's border city of Kaesong. The sub-panel meeting of the joint Kaesong management committee, which is responsible for reforming the transit and communication rules at the industrial complex, marks the first inter-Korean talks this year. The second round of the talks on the radio frequency identification (RFID) system took place in November. "On the table this time will be when and how to operate the newly built electronic system in earnest," said an official of Seoul's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs. Earlier this month, South Korea completed building the RFID system, a data transfer system to facilitate travel to and from the industrial complex, and has since conducted test-run for the system. It is expected to allow South Korean factory managers to visit the park and return home at any time on days they are permitted to cross the border, according to the ministry. Currently, Seoul has to fax a list of names a day before their trip to the North, which would then allow those on the list to cross the border only during a designated time, an obstacle to overall competitiveness of thecomplex. During the talks, the two sides are also expcted to discuss other pressing issues such as how to simplify the customs process for products produced at the Kaesong park and forms of communications between Kaesong and the outside world including Internet connectivity and military telephone connections, according to ministry officials. The inter-Korean talks came at a time when the inter-Korean relations are at a crossroads. Amid growing uncertainties and instability in the communist country following its shocking execution of leader Kim Jong-un's once-powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek, last month, Pyongyang has made a series of peace gesture to Seoul, calling for inter-Korean talks. South Korea, however, has said it will not buy its "deceptive overture," urging the North to show sincerity by taking concrete steps toward denuclearization. The joint industrial park of Kaesong, the last-remaining symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation, is home to some 120 South Korean companies that hire more than 44,600 North Koreans. The project serves as a major legitimate revenue source for the impoverished communist country.