ROK-DPRK talks on biz zone reopening fail

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) failed once again to agree on reopening the Kaesong industrial complex that has been suspended for more than three months.

Three-member delegations from both sides on Wednesday held three top-delegate talks and a 50-minute plenary session in the morning, but they ended the fourth round of working-level talks without any agreement reached.

Instead, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to resume talks on July 22 at the Kaesong industrial zone, another round of working-level dialogue.

"Our side said a material question about (adopting) the statement of agreement lies in an assurance of recurrence prevention, but the stance of the North side (DPRK) failed to make headway," Kim Kiwoong, Seoul's top delegate and director-general of the Unification Ministry's inter-Korean district support directorate, told reporters at a briefing.

Kim said that big gaps remained between Seoul and Pyongyang over institutional assurances to normalize the Kaesong industrial park in a productive way. The ROK wants measures that would prevent any future unilateral shutdown of the industrial park.