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South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), orNorth Koreafailed on Monday to narrow differences which blocked reopening of the joint industrial park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong.
Kim Kiwoong, Seoul's chief negotiator, told a press briefing that differences and common ground were confirmed between Seoul and Pyongyang during the talks.
Pyongyang was positive towards developing the Kaesong industrial zone into an international factory park, but differences remained over preventing recurrence of unilateral shutdown of the complex, Seoul's condition for reopening the park.
Three-member delegations from both sides ended the fifth round of working-level talks at 6:05 p.m. local time after holding three plenary sessions and one top-delegate dialogue in the zone.
Seoul and Pyongyang exchanged revised agreements, raising hopes that the two sides might agree on reopening the symbol of inter- Korean economic cooperation.
However, the two nations stuck to their guns, only agreeing to resume talks on July 25.
Earlier this month, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed in principle to normalize operations of the joint industrial park, but they have been at odds over how to reopen the complex in the follow-up talks, while South Korean companies with factories in the park have been carrying back finished products, material and equipment.
Seoul has called on Pyongyang to provide a clear assurance to prevent recurrence of unilateral shutdown of the complex, and turn it into an international industrial park by allowing foreign companies to invest there.
Pyongyang urged Seoul to reopen the joint industrial zone after finishing the maintenance work without agreeing to take legal and institutional measures for recurrence prevention.
Meanwhile, South Korean President Park Geun-hye linked Kaesong talks with broader inter-Korean relations in the future, hinting her unwillingness to make concessions.
Though the ongoing working-level talks were centered on the normalization of the Kaesong industrial complex, the fact should be kept in mind that the dialogue will serve as "an important basis for principles and frameworks for establishing new inter- Korean relations," said Park at a meeting with senior presidential secretaries on Monday.
Park urged Pyongyang to recognize that it was in its own interest to create stable conditions for investment by providing a clear assurance to prevent recurrence of unilateral shutdown and devising legal, institutional tools conforming to international standards.
Top delegates exchanged verbal attacks in their opening remarks, serving as an early sign of the aborted talks.
Kim said in his introductory remarks that the season when grains are ripe will come in due time, implying that Seoul could wait until Pyongyang accepts its proposal for the factory park normalization.
In response, Park Chol-su, Pyongyang's top negotiator, said that he was interested in the views of the South Korean leadership over the Kaesong issue, stressing that North Korean leadership has been in favor of normalizing operations.
The Kaesong industrial zone, where 123 South Korean companies run factories, has been suspended since Pyongyang pulled out around 53,000 of its workers in April in protest against the joint annual military drill between Seoul and Washington.
