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| Rep. Song Young-gil, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea / Korea Times file |
The head of the ruling Democratic Party said Saturday that he would “seek a visit” to the United States in the near future to explore a “clue” for the resumption of the now-shuttered inter-Korean industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong.
Song Young-gil made the remark during a meeting with an association of business owners who used to run operations at the complex that was closed in February 2016 following the nuclear and missile tests by the North.
The owners have called on the government to find a way to recoup their financial losses caused by the closure of factories that employed tens of thousands of North Koreans to produce labor-intensive goods, such as shoes, watches and utensils.
“I hope that we can find a clue within the term of the Moon Jae-in administration by persuading people in the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden and building an understanding with the North Korean side,” Song said.
“I will seek to visit the U.S. in the near future,” he added.
Song did not elaborate on the envisioned trip to the U.S., but if he travels there he is expected to seek a loosening of international and U.S. sanctions to pave the way for the resumption of inter-Korean economic exchanges.
At the meeting, the businesspeople called on Song to push for the normalization of the complex and a special law on compensating them for financial losses ― estimated to reach 230 billion won ($206 million) ― and providing other support.
“If everybody gives up on it, who would trust the government and jump into inter-Korean economic cooperation projects?” Lee Jae-cheol, the head of the association, said.
The ruling party chief said in turn that he understood their situation and would relay their demands to the government. (Yonhap)
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