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WORLD NEWSFriday 12 February 2016

North Korea orders military takeover of inter-Korean factories

South Korean vehicles returning from North Korea’s joint Kaesong Industrial Complex pass the the world’s most heavily ban reporters from the bor-
customs, immigration and quarantine office near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South armed border in the city der crossing on Friday.
Korea, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016. North Korea on Thursday ordered a military takeover of the factory of Kaesong, pulling out the “I was told not to bring any-
park that was the last major symbol of cooperation with South Korea, saying Seoul’s suspension of tens of thousands of North thing but personal goods,
operations at the jointly run facility was a “dangerous declaration of war.” Korean employees and so I’ve got nothing but my
freezing all South Korean clothes to take back,” a
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) assets. The North also said manager at a South Ko-
it was shutting down two rean apparel company at
AHN YOUNG-JOON bol of cooperation with laration of war.” crucial cross-border com- the complex, who declined
Associated Press South Korea, calling Seoul’s North Korea said it was re- munication hotlines. to give his name, told The
PAJU, South Korea (AP) — earlier suspension of op- sponding to Seoul’s shut- Hours after a deadline set Associated Press by phone
North Korea on Thursday erations at the jointly run down order by immediate- by North Korea passed, before he crossed to the
ordered a military takeover facility as punishment for ly deporting the hundreds South Korea’s government South. Chang Beom Kang,
of a factory park that had the North’s recent rocket of South Koreans who work said all of the 280 South who has been running an
been the last major sym- launch a “dangerous dec- at the complex just across Korean workers who had apparel company in Kae-
been at the facility had fi- song since 2009, said from
nally returned to the South. South Koreathat his com-
Their departure quashed pany has about 920 North
concerns that some might Korean workers — who
be held hostage, and low- didn’t show up on Thursday
ered the chances that the — and seven South Korean
standoff might lead to vio- managers at Kaesong.
lence or miscalculations. He said one of his work-
Tensions have risen since ers, who entered Kaesong
North Korea’s nuclear test earlier Thursday, was about
last month, followed by its to cross the border to re-
long-range rocket launch turn to South Korea with
on Sunday that outsiders thousands of women’s
see as a banned test of clothes produced at the
ballistic missile technology. factory. But at the last min-
South Korea responded ute the employee had to
Thursday by beginning drive back to the factory
work to suspend operations to unload the clothes be-
at the factory park, one of cause of North Korea’s an-
its harshest possible punish- nouncement that it would
ment options. freeze all South Korean as-
South Korea said it would sets there.q

Hong Kong activists face riot charges after holiday protest

HONG KONG (AP) — Sever- mum sentence of 10 years authorities’ attempts to Foreign Ministry spokesman ficers and four reporters
al dozen people appeared in prison. crack down on food hawk- Hong Lei said the riot was were injured.
in a Hong Kong court Thurs- Defendants were given bail ers selling fishballs and oth- plotted largely by a local It was the worst violence in
day to face rioting charges and their cases adjourned er local delicacies for the radical separatist organi- Hong Kong since late 2014,
following a violent clash until April, the reports said. Lunar New Year holiday. zation. The report did not when the city was rocked
earlier this week between A 15-year-old appeared The unlicensed vendors are elaborate. by pro-democracy protests
protesters and police separately at a juvenile a local holiday tradition Protesters pelted police that left a widening trust
sparked by a clampdown court to face the same but attempts this year by with bricks and glass bottles gap between the pub-
on holiday street food ven- charge, local channel Ca- authorities to remove them and set fires on the street. lic and the city’s Beijing-
dors. ble TV reported. stoked concerns that Hong Officers responded with backed leader.
Hong Kong police and lo- Police arrested a total of Kong’s local culture is dis- batons and pepper spray. Police said 16 other peo-
cal media reports said 37 64 people after the street appearing as Beijing tight- One officer fired two warn- ple, including one as young
people were attending battle, which erupted late ens its hold on the semiau- ing shots into the air, a as 14, were released on bail
court in Kowloon, each Monday in densely popu- tonomous Chinese city. highly unusual act in Hong as they continue to investi-
facing one count of taking lated Mong Kok and lasted In a statement reported Kong, which otherwise has gate. They said another 10
part in a riot, a rarely used until dawn Tuesday. late Thursday by the offi- a reputation for being ex- are being held for “for fur-
charge that carries a maxi- Activists were angered by cial Xinhua News Agency, tremely safe. Nearly 90 of- ther enquiries.”q