朝鲜不准韩国工人进入开城工业园区

North Korea is blocking entry of South Korean workers into a joint industrial zone just north of the border, jeopardizing the last remaining sign of cooperation between the two foes.

Pyongyang announced Wednesday it is suspending South Korean access to the
Kaesong industrial complex, but said it would allow the South Korean workers
at the facility to leave.

South Korea says it was not told how long the entry ban will last, but warns that, if it is prolonged, South Korean workers could run out of supplies and food. Unification Ministry spokesperson says the safety of its workers is Seoul\'s top priority.

Seoul\'s defense ministry says that military action is a last-resort option if the safety of the workers is threatened.

Pyongyang has previously blocked South Koreans from entering or exiting the complex, which opened in 2004. But this appears to be the most serious threat yet to the center, which provides about $2 billion a year in trade for the impoverished North.

South Koreans who work in Kaesong are expressing concern about their safety.

The move came just hours after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned Pyongyang against making further provocative threats against Washington and its allies.

平壤星期三宣布，暂停准予韩国工人进入开城工业园区，但表示将准许目前仍停留在园区内的韩国工人离开。

韩国表示，未被告知不准进入开城工业园区的禁令将维持多久，但警告说，如果禁令维持下去，韩国工人将面临生活用品和食物短缺。韩国统一部发言人说，韩国工人的安全是首尔的首要考虑事项。

韩国国防部说，如果韩国工人的安全受到威胁，军事行动将是最后的选择。

平壤以往曾经阻挠韩国人进入或离开开城工业园区。该园区于2004年开始运营。但开城工业园区这次看来面临着最严重的威胁。开城工业园区每年为贫困的朝鲜带来大约20亿美元的贸易收入。

在开城工业园区工作的韩国人对当地的安全局势感到担忧。

在朝鲜做出这一决定的几小时前，美国国务卿克里警告平壤不要进一步对华盛顿及其盟友进行威胁挑衅。