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On Saturday, North Korea stated that it was entering a “state of war” with South Korea, though South Korea maintains the two Koreas have been technically in a state of war for over six decades with an armistice ending the 1950-53 conflict.
However, it seems, the U.S. showing that it can send stealth bombers to South Korea and back to U.S. without refueling has rattled North Korea to the core, and the powers there are convinced, that “The south Korean warmongers … with the backing of the U.S. master, are … seeking to mount precision missile strikes on the statues of … Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, symbol of the DPRK’s dignity.” (Nuclear War to Be Conducted on Korean Peninsula, KCNA, March 29).
But then again, North Korea feels its supreme dignity hurt as south Korea keeps insisting that the North is keeping the Kaesong industrial zone open across the borders, because it does not want to lose the lucrative source of foreign currency.
So, an agency that operates Kaesong has been quoted by the KCNA as saying, “If the puppet traitor group continues to mention the Kaesong industrial zone is being kept operating and damages our dignity, it will be mercilessly shut off and shut down…”
Shutting down the zone can leave hundreds of South Korean workers trapped in North Korea and end up as hostages.
The agency running Kaesong, which is possibly one of the biggest sources of foreign currency for the cash strapped nation, said, “We have been exercising extreme restraint considering the plight of medium and small companies whose livelihood depends on the Kaesong industrial project as an immediate shutdown will drive them to bankruptcy and people jobless.”
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Having saved face, and stating that North Korea does not need Kaesong for the nation’s cash flow, KCNA stated, “From this time on, the North-South relations will be entering the state of war and all issues raised between the North and the South will be handled accordingly.”
A South Korea ministry statement said, “North Korea’s statement today (on entering a state of war) … is not a new threat but is the continuation of provocative threats.”
