S Korea, DPRK hold working-level talks on industrial complex

SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held Monday the second round of working-level talks at the joint industrial complex in the border town of Kaesong to discuss ways to improve operations at the industrial park.

"The ongoing talks started at 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT)," the spokesman at Seoul's Ministry of Unification, Chun Hae-sung, told reporters in a briefing.

The previous talks in late January left the two sides divided on wage issues, as Pyongyang insisted the issue be included in the agenda while Seoul, fearing possible wage hikes would rid 110 South Korean companies based there of incentives of cheap labor provided by about 42,000 DPRK workers, refused to do so.

While the wage issue remains a possible hurdle, the two sides at Monday's meeting are expected to discuss improving transportation, communication and customs system at the joint park along with construction of accommodation facilities for DPRK workers, according to the media reports in Seoul.