A group of South Korean businessmen with factories at the Kaesong Industrial Complex made a day trip to Kaesong for talks with North Korean officials.<br />The visit comes after Pyongyang unilaterally demanded a wage hike for its workers at the complex... and refused to discuss the matter with the South Korean government.<br />Hwang Sung-hee reports. <br />Although North Korea rejected a petition from the South Korean companies, the South Korean businessmen say Wednesday's talks in Kaesong were quite productive.<br /><br /><br />"We delivered vivid stories from the companies' perspective -- at least 10 times more than what was written on a one-page petition."<br /><br /><br />The rare day trip comes after North Korea demanded a unilateral wage hike of around five percent and a revision of regulations last month. <br />South Korea says the issue must be settled through inter-Korean dialogue.<br /><br /><br />"The government thinks it's appropriate for North Korea to come to talks as soon as possible to resolve issues regarding the management and improvement of the Kaesong complex through government-level talks."<br /><br /><br />With North Korea refusing the offer, 14 South Korean businessmen met with Pak Chol-su, the North Korean official who oversees the management of the business park, to urge Pyongyang to engage in talks.<br /><br /><br />"We asked North Korea to consider the fact that many companies have nightmares about the suspension in 2013 and that it should engage in government-level talks swiftly."<br /><br /><br />The businessmen describe Wednesday's talks as amicable, adding they will hold similar meetings in the future.<br />The joint business park, where some 53-thousand North Koreans work at 1-hundred-25 South Korean factories, is the last remaining link of inter-Korean economic cooperation.<br /><br /><br />"The South Korean government, companies and experts all say that another shutdown of the business park will not be in North Korea's interest. But many are keeping an eye on a planned anti-Pyongyang leaflet launch next week... and whether it will influence business operation
