The government has again called on North Korea to respond to its final offer for talks on normalizing operations of the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
 
Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim Hyung-seok said in a statement Sunday that the South Korean people’s patience is running out as they wait for a reply from North Korea.
 
Kim said if the North truly believes the joint venture is the touchstone of inter-Korean relations, Pyongyang should show its will through responsible words and actions instead of silence.
 
Kim said the South Korean government and firms lost one-point-one trillion won from the suspension of the industrial park. He asked North Korea for compensation for the first time.
 
The spokesman added Seoul remains steadfast in its position to globalize the joint venture. He said if uncertainties surrounding the complex remain, business firms’ will not be able to operate smoothly even if the complex reopens.
 
Kim’s statement comes a week after Seoul made its final offer for talks.