SEOUL // South Korea appealed today to North Korea to engage in dialogue to defuse heightened tension on the peninsula as the communist nation scrutinised a list of South Koreans to be expelled from a joint industrial complex in the North.
The unification minister for the South Kim Ha-joong issued the call for dialogue days before North Korea was to suspend tourism to its ancient border city of Kaesong and expel some South Koreans from a nearby industrial zone.
North Korea said it was taking the measures starting Dec 1 because of Seoul's confrontational stance toward Pyongyang.
"I can hardly understand the North's unilateral measures," Mr Kim said during a speech at a fair of products manufactured in Kaesong.
"I propose that government authorities of the South and the North meet and discuss these measures."
Tensions between the two Koreas have been high since the conservative South Korean president Lee Myung-bak took office in February with a pledge to take a tougher approach to Pyongyang than his liberal predecessors.
Mr Lee has questioned implementing key accords his predecessors struck with the North's leader Kim Jong Il that call for providing aid to the North without condition.
That and other moves by Seoul, including its recent sponsorship of a UN resolution denouncing Pyongyang's human rights record, have enraged the North.
Pyongyang suspended reconciliation talks with Seoul soon after Mr Lee took office.
Civilian reconciliation projects continued, including the Kaesong industrial complex and tour projects. But the North announced on Monday that the civilian projects would be scaled back.
At Pyongyang's request, South Korea provided a list of workers who will pull out of the Kaesong complex in coming days.
The unification ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon said Seoul has proposed that some 2,000 South Koreans be allowed to stay in the industrial zone. A total of about 4,000 South Korean company managers and other staff have permits travel to or stay in the enclave located just across the heavily fortified border.
About 1,500-1,700 South Koreans are in the zone on an average day, South Korean officials said.
Mr Kim said the North is reviewing the list and is expected to give its response later today.
The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the sides technically at war. Ties warmed following the first-ever summit of their leaders in 2000, but chilled again this year with Mr Lee's election.
*AP
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
