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Seoul and Pyongyang set up arbitration panel to settle labor conflicts in Kaesong

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South Korea requests North to hold meeting of subcommittees on Kaesong Complex

SEOUL, December 27. /ITAR-TASS/. The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have agreed to set up an arbitration commission to settle labor conflicts in the Kaesong industrial complex, Kim Eui-do, press secretary of the ROK Ministry of Unification, announced on Friday. The Ministry is in charge of the entire spectrum of relations between the North and South.

On Thursday, the North Korean side gave ROK the names of five representatives representatives to work in the commission. Earlier Seoul had presented to Pyongyang its own list, a Unification Ministry official said.

The Arbitration Commission must get down to work after both sides fix a procedure and rules for its activities. It is expected that the Commission will begin working not earlier than March next.

One hundred and twenty South Korean companies operate in the Kaesong industrial complex. They have established the manufacture of consumer goods, including watches and clocks, clothes, footwear, and other products. Over 44,000 North Korean workers are employed at the production lines.

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