Two Koreas attempt rare talks amid N-dispute

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PAJU, South Korea, April 21 (Reuters): South Korean envoys arrived in North Korea Tuesday for rare talks between the political rivals that come as global powers try to prevent reclusive Pyongyang from restarting its nuclear arms plant.
South Korean officials have released few details on the talks, which North Korea requested, over a jointly operated factory park just north of the border.
They are seeking the release of a South Korean worker detained at the park for nearly a month for allegedly making derogatory comments about Pyongyang's leaders.
Also at stake may be the future operations of the Kaesong Industrial Park, where South Korean firms use cheap North Korean labour and land to make goods, and the cash-strapped North receives a steady flow of foreign currency in return.
North Korea, angered by the decision of President Lee Myung-bak after he took office a year ago to cut a steady flow of aid to his impoverished neighbour, has disrupted work at the park at times to put pressure on Seoul to drop its hardline.
Despite the North's moves, the number of firms at Kaesong continues to grow due to its low costs and was at 93 at the end of February, employing nearly 39,000 North Korean workers.
The South's nine-member economic delegation had yet to sit down with the North Koreans for at least six hours after arriving because the two sides could not decide on where to hold the talks or the format of the discussions, a South Korea Unification Ministry spokeswoman told reporters.
If the North tries to do anything other than warn, fine or expel the South Korean worker, the South will make a "strong response," spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said, declining to elaborate.
Yun Duk-min, an expert on North Korea at the South's Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, said the unpredictable North is looking to call the shots at the meeting.
"South Korea accepted the talks on the slight hope of winning the release of the worker. North Korea could abruptly drop a bomb and say it wants to shut down the Kaesong park," Yun said.