Inter-Korean working-level talks on industrial complex ends without substantial results: S.Korean gov't

South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ended the latest round of working-level talks on operations at the joint industrial complex in the border town of Kaesong. According to officials from Seoul, the talks yielded no substantial results.

The latest dialogue in Kaesong is the first inter-governmental meeting this year between South Korea and its neighbor the DPRK.

Kim Young-tak, head of a South Korean delegation, center, answers  reporters' questions before leaving for North Korea's border city  of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine, or CIQ office, near the border village of Panmunjom, in Paju, north of Seoul,  South Korea, Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. A group of South Korean officials  traveled Monday into North Korea for talks on a joint industrial  complex despite renewed tension following the North's artillery  firing toward their disputed sea border.(AP Photo/ Choi Woo-jung, Yonhap)

The two sides could not bridge gaps on topics proposed by South Korea, such as transportation, communication, a customs system, and accommodations for workers at the park.

No date was set for the next round of talks, but South Korea says these pending issues will be included in future talks between the two sides.

Kim Young-Tak, Head of South Korea Delegation, said, "From now on, we have decided to hold the military working-level talks to discuss the transportation, communication, custom issues, as well as accommodation and wage issues."