朝韩代表将商谈开城工业园区工资问题

North Korean officials are set to meet Wednesday with representatives of South Korean companies, amid a dispute over wages at a jointly run industrial complex.

Pyongyang is trying to unilaterally raise wages for North Korean workers at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, which lies just north of the two countries\' tense border. Seoul objects, saying such a move must be agreed to by both sides.

Chung Ki-sup, the head of the council of South Korean businesses in Kaesong, said he believes the dispute can be resolved through dialogue. The two sides are meeting at Kaesong.

Last month, Pyongyang notified Seoul of its decision to raise the minimum monthly wage for its workers from $70.35 to $74.00 starting in March.

More than 53,000 North Korean workers are employed by about 120 South Korean factories in the park, which is one of the few areas of North-South economic cooperation.

平壤试图单方面提高开城工业园区内朝鲜工人的工资。该园区位于朝鲜半岛南北边界的朝鲜一侧。首尔对此表示反对，认为提高工资必须得到双方的同意。

开城的韩国企业委员会负责人郑起燮说，他认为这一争端可以通过对话得到解决。双方将在开城举行会谈。

平壤上个月知会首尔，朝鲜将从3月开始把本国工人的最低月薪从70.35美元提高到74美元。

在开城工业园区，约120家韩国工厂雇用着5万3千多名朝鲜工人。开城工业园区是朝鲜和韩国极少的几个经济合作项目之一。