North Korea says its demand for increased wages at the inter-Korean factory park is its legislative right, hinting it will push to revise the relevant rules.
 
A spokesman of the North's Central Special Development Guidance Bureau, which oversees the management of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, told the North’s propaganda Web site, Uriminzokkiri, that Gaeseong is its sovereign territory and the regime has no reason to consult with the South over the wage hikes.
 
The spokesman said a pay increase is also guaranteed under the labor rules at Gaeseong as a way of protecting the rights of the North Korean workers.
 
He also claimed that the current wage level does not properly reflect the improvement in skill and productivity of the North Korean employees.
 
He added that if South Korea is really interested in developing the inter-Korean industrial complex, it will first have to lift the economic sanction imposed on the North on May 24, 2010 in the wake of the deadly sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan.
 
In response, the Ministry of Unification reminded the North that it has agreed to decide all issues regarding Gaeseong through consultations with the South.
 
The ministry said the North should come to the negotiation table, instead of making nonsensical arguments through its propaganda outlets.
 
Last month, the North unilaterally demanded a five-point-18 percent minimum wage hike at Gaeseong to 74 dollars monthly starting in March.
 
The South Korean government flatly rejected the demand, and proposed discussing it in a meeting of the Gaeseong complex joint management committee.