Inter-Korean talks break down

Talks between North and South Korea about reopening their jointly-run industrial zone collapsed yesterday, with both sides failing to set a date for another meeting.
The two sides blamed each other for what the North called a "virtual breakdown" of the talks aimed at reviving the Seoul-funded Kaesong industrial estate in the North.
"It is very regrettable that the North has declared the talks had in effect collapsed," said Kim Hyung-Suk, spokesman for the South's Unification Ministry.
"Judging from the results of today's talks, the government finds the fate of the Kaesong zone is in serious danger," he said.
Earlier the North's chief delegate Pak Chol-Su warned that the North may turn the estate into a military base if the talks collapsed.