A senior U.S. official has stressed that South Korea’s decision to close the Gaeseong Industrial Complex is “consistent with” the international community’s stance against North Korea.
 
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel made the comments in a briefing to foreign correspondents in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.

[Sound bite: Daniel Russel - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State (English)]
"It is a decision that's consistent with the widespread view in the international community that more steps are needed to convince the DPRK leadership that it is not going to be possible to have access to the international economic system let alone economic or financial aid as long as North Korea continues to pursue nuclear and missile programs in direct contravention of UN Security Council resolutions...."

The assistant secretary said that it was not an easy decision for Seoul, adding the closing of the park showed the “seriousness” with which South Korea regarded North Korea’s latest nuclear and missile tests.
 
North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test last month and launched what it asserted was a satellite this week, a move that sparked criticism that the reclusive state was testing long-range ballistic missile technologies.