South Korea to withdraw workers from Kaesong In a statement, North Korea said it would not threaten the safety of the South Koreans who were withdrawing. "If they are truly worried about the lives of South Korean personnel in the (complex), they may withdraw all of them to the south side where there are stockpiles of food and raw materials and sound medical conditions," said a spokesman for the North's National Defence Commission. "All matters related to the safety of South Korean personnel wanting to leave Kaesong will be guaranteed by our authorities," he added. While the future for Kaesong looks gloomy, both sides avoided spelling out that the park would close. "This is a war of pride between the Koreas, but they are conducting it while leaving some room for talks," said Lee Hochul, a political science professor at Incheon National University in South Korea to The Associated Press. Once drills end and tension subsides, they may try to revive contact over Kaesong.