Kaesong industrial complex viewed from the Dora Observatory near the DMZ (image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Korea Bizwire) – North Korea’s decision to reset its standard time from this week could cause confusion for South Korean businessmen going to the Kaesong industrial complex in the North, with Pyongyang yet to explain any changes to entry rules, officials said Friday.
Pyongyang had announced it is rolling back its standard time, set by Japan during its 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula, by 30 minutes starting Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of liberation this year.
Seoul officials are concerned that the new time difference would confuse procedural matters for entry into Kaesong.
“There may be disputes over when to set the opening time of the border, which is currently 8:30 a.m.,” an official said. With the clock set back, the opening time may be adjusted to 9 a.m. on the Southern side, he said.
Pyongyang’s new standard time may also result in a larger cultural gap between the two Koreas, the official said.
The unification ministry on Monday had criticized Pyongyang’s unilateral move, saying it goes against efforts toward peaceful national unification and make inter-Korean cooperation more difficult.
