South and North Korea resumed talks today/ on Thursday aimed at restarting operations at a joint factory park in North Korea, a key symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. Before leaving for the meeting South Korea's chief negotiator Kim Ki-woong said that the government is looking to achieve a conclusion to the talks that will make sure the public will never have to worry about the Kaesong complex again.

Kaesong complex (Photo: Reuters)

Working-level officials from both sides have met five times this month but with neither side showing a willingness to make concessions. No agreement has been reached on the specific conditions for the resumption of operations at the factory zone that has remained shuttered since early April.

Pyongyang has insisted on the immediate resumption of operations while skirting the issue of providing guarantees. Seoul is committed to reopening the complex yet it stands resolute on securing a guarantee that will prevent the North from unilaterally closing the complex and to get Pyongyang to accept responsibility for the current situation.