07 April 2013 (20:56 UTC-07 Tango 06 April 2013)/26 Jumada l-Ula 1434/18 Farvardin 1391/27 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The DPRK’s blockade of the Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR) is having an effect on the ROK capitalist companies operating there.

At this point four South Korean companies have had to cease operations. Three of them were involved with textiles, the fourth made machinery.

On Saturday a South Korean employee, who finally left the KIR, said he doesn’t recall hearing the North Koreans ordering him to leave:  “The security has tightened in the North, but I haven’t received any order to leave the complex. Our company is still in operation because we have some materials left. But in the next three to four days, we will probably reach a critical point.”-Kim Jin-ho

On Friday the estimated 53000 North Koreans working at the KIR refused to show up for work.  ROK officials say there is a little more than 500 South Koreans still working in the complex.